PeruRail

PeruRail is a railway operator serving southern Peru, with a business centered on passenger and tourist transportation to Machu Picchu and across the Andean rail network. Established in 1999 by two Peruvian entrepreneurs together with the British transport and logistics company Sea Containers, it took over operations associated with Peru’s former southern railway system and developed a diversified operating model combining tourism, freight, charter work, and related transport services. The company’s best-known activity is the narrow-gauge railway linking the Cusco area with Machu Picchu station at Aguas Calientes. The route passes through the Sacred Valley and is used by a large proportion of visitors traveling to the archaeological site. PeruRail markets several levels of service, ranging from relatively basic Expedition trains to observation-oriented services and premium products with dining, guides, transfers, and other travel components. Its luxury Hiram Bingham service is operated under the Belmond brand and is positioned as an upscale, all-inclusive rail journey. PeruRail also operates tourist services on the southern standard-gauge network. This system extends from the port of Matarani through Arequipa and the highland city of Juliaca, with branches toward Puno on Lake Titicaca and Cusco. The network is historically associated with the Ferrocarril del Sur, formerly operated by Peru’s state railway company ENAFER. Its highest point is La Raya Pass, at approximately 4,313 metres above sea level, making the route one of the world’s highest railway lines. In addition to passenger operations, PeruRail runs freight trains between Matarani, Arequipa, Juliaca, Puno, and Cusco. Cargoes described in reference material include mineral concentrates, fuel, wheat, coal, cement, agricultural products, coffee, beer, and other beverages. The operator has also handled freight for major mining customers, including copper-concentrate traffic. Its transport activities extend to Lake Titicaca: the company operates the Manco Capac rail-car float between Puno and Guaqui in Bolivia and has held the historic SS Ollanta for refurbishment, charter, and cruise-related use. PeruRail’s ownership structure combines international luxury-travel expertise with Peruvian railway interests. The company operates as a 50/50 joint venture between Belmond Limited and Peruvian Trains and Railways, the latter being owned by two Peruvian entrepreneurs. Lorenzo Sousa Debarbieri is identified as chairman of the board. The brand’s market position is therefore unusual: it combines infrastructure-based freight and regional transport with highly visible premium tourism products associated with Machu Picchu, Cusco, and Lake Titicaca.

PeruRail was created in 1999 during the restructuring and private-sector operation of railway services in southern Peru. Its formation involved two Peruvian entrepreneurs and Sea Containers, a British company with transport and logistics interests. The new operator inherited activity associated with the former Ferrocarril del Sur, a major railway system that had previously been owned and operated by the Peruvian state railway company ENAFER. The southern railway system connected the Pacific port of Matarani with Arequipa and the highland network around Juliaca. From Juliaca, routes extended toward Puno on Lake Titicaca and toward Cusco. The line became important not only for passenger travel but also for the movement of mining, agricultural, industrial, and consumer goods through the southern Andes. PeruRail continued freight operations between the coast, the highlands, and Cusco, carrying products such as copper concentrates, fuel, wheat, coal, cement, coffee, and beverages. A second major part of the business is the narrow-gauge Ferrocarril Santa Ana route from the Cusco area to Machu Picchu. The railway climbs out of Cusco using a sequence of switchbacks known locally as El Zig-Zag, then descends through the Sacred Valley before reaching Ollantaytambo and continuing to Machu Picchu station at Aguas Calientes. Parts of the historic route beyond Machu Picchu were destroyed by flooding. Passenger services have also varied by station and period: direct service from Cusco’s San Pedro station and service from Poroy have not operated continuously, while trains have also departed from Ollantaytambo and other points depending on operational arrangements. PeruRail developed a tiered tourism proposition on the Machu Picchu route. Expedition trains offered a comparatively affordable basic service with upholstered seating, snack sales, and luggage space useful to hikers. Observation-oriented services used refurbished railcars with large side and roof windows to emphasize the landscape. Higher-end products added dining, guides, buses, and other components connected with a Machu Picchu visit. The Belmond Hiram Bingham Pullman became the signature luxury service, operating from Poroy and combining a premium train journey with meals, transfers, guiding, and access-related components. The company expanded its premium portfolio on the southern network. In 2017 it introduced the Sacred Valley service, a Pullman-style product with dining and observation facilities. The same period saw the development of the Belmond Andean Explorer, a luxury sleeper train offering an overnight journey between Cusco and Puno and a longer multi-day itinerary continuing toward Arequipa. The carriages had previously been used on the Great South Pacific Express in Australia and were brought to Peru in 2016 for refurbishment. The interiors were designed by James Park & Associates, while refurbishment work was carried out in Cusco. A traditional Pago a la Tierra ceremony was held before the train entered service. Before the Andean Explorer sleeper service began, the Titicaca Train name was used for a first-class daytime service between Cusco and Puno. The train used Pullman-style dining cars and an open-air observation bar car, and it remained part of PeruRail’s portfolio after the sleeper product was introduced under the Andean Explorer name. PeruRail has also offered local trains with wooden seating at substantially lower fares for Peruvian nationals, although these services were not promoted in the same way as tourist trains. The operator’s network has experienced changes in passenger availability. Passenger service between Matarani and Arequipa was no longer operating in the form described by the reference material, and service on the Juliaca–Arequipa section was suspended for several years before the inauguration of the Belmond Andean Explorer in May 2017. PeruRail’s transport activities also include the Manco Capac rail-car float on Lake Titicaca, linking the company’s railhead at Puno with Guaqui in Bolivia. The historic SS Ollanta, launched in 1931, has been refurbished for tourist cruises and charter-related use. PeruRail operates as a 50/50 joint venture between Belmond Limited and Peruvian Trains and Railways. Lorenzo Sousa Debarbieri is identified as chairman of the board. The company’s history reflects the intersection of railway privatization, mining and agricultural freight, Andean regional transport, and the growth of premium tourism around Machu Picchu, Cusco, and Lake Titicaca.

1. 2019San Pedro–Poroy service arrangements change

   Reference material notes that service on the Cusco San Pedro–Poroy section had been suspended and that Inca Rail resumed service on the section in May 2019.

   Source
2. 2017Sacred Valley service is introduced

   PeruRail introduces the Sacred Valley Pullman service on the Machu Picchu route, with dining and observation facilities.

   Source
3. 2017Belmond Andean Explorer begins service

   The luxury sleeper train begins operations, offering an overnight Cusco–Puno itinerary and a longer Cusco–Puno–Arequipa journey.

   Source
4. 2016Luxury sleeper carriages arrive in Peru

   Carriages formerly used by Australia’s Great South Pacific Express are brought to Peru for refurbishment for the future Andean Explorer service.

   Source
5. 2001Freight tonnage reaches 639,000 tons

   Reference material reports that freight tonnage handled under PeruRail’s administration rose from 460,000 tons in 1999 and 573,000 tons in 2000 to 639,000 tons in 2001.

   Source
6. 1999PeruRail is founded

   PeruRail is established by two Peruvian entrepreneurs and Sea Containers to operate railway services in southern Peru.

   Source

A tourism-led Andean rail operator combining premium destination travel with regional passenger, freight, charter, and lake-transport services.

• Machu Picchu passenger trainsTourist passenger rail

  PeruRail’s core tourist operation links the Cusco area and the Sacred Valley with Machu Picchu station at Aguas Calientes. Depending on the service, trains depart from locations including Poroy and Ollantaytambo. The route uses narrow-gauge track and passes through steep Andean terrain, the Sacred Valley, and mountain landscapes associated with access to Machu Picchu.

• PeruRail ExpeditionTourist passenger rail

  Expedition trains provide a lower-priced tourist option on the Machu Picchu route. They use upholstered seats and provide basic onboard service, including snack sales and space for backpacks. The product is particularly suited to travelers seeking rail access to Machu Picchu without the dining and all-inclusive features of the premium services.

• PeruRail Sacred ValleyPremium tourist passenger rail2017

  Introduced in 2017, Sacred Valley is a Pullman-style service with dining and observation facilities. It was designed to make the journey itself part of the destination experience, combining enhanced onboard presentation with views of the landscape along the route to Machu Picchu.

• Belmond Hiram BinghamLuxury tourist passenger rail

  The Hiram Bingham Pullman is PeruRail’s signature luxury train service to Machu Picchu, operated under the Belmond brand. The package includes premium dining, guides, bus transportation, and components associated with visiting the archaeological site. It departs from Poroy in the service description and is named after the American explorer associated with the modern rediscovery of Machu Picchu.

• Belmond Andean ExplorerLuxury sleeper rail2017

  The Andean Explorer is a luxury sleeper train operating on the southern highland network. Its itineraries include an overnight journey from Cusco to Puno and a longer two-night, three-day journey continuing to Arequipa. The refurbished carriages include sleeping accommodation, dining facilities, and an observation-oriented travel experience across high-altitude Andean scenery.

• Titicaca TrainPremium daytime passenger rail

  The Titicaca Train is a first-class daytime service associated with the Cusco–Puno route. Its configuration includes Pullman-style dining cars and an open-air observation bar car. The name was used before the introduction of the Andean Explorer sleeper service and represents PeruRail’s premium daytime offering across the southern Andes.

• Freight rail servicesRail freight1999

  PeruRail operates freight trains between Matarani, Arequipa, Juliaca, Puno, and Cusco. Cargoes described for the service include copper concentrates, fuel, wheat, coal, cement, soybean flour from Bolivia, coffee, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages. The company also transports mineral concentrates for major Peruvian mining customers.

• Manco CapacRail-car float

  Manco Capac is a rail-car ferry operated on Lake Titicaca between PeruRail’s railhead at Puno and Guaqui in Bolivia. It allows rail vehicles and freight to cross the lake as part of the broader southern Andean transport system.

• SS OllantaTourist cruise and charter vessel1931

  The SS Ollanta is a historic Lake Titicaca vessel launched in 1931. PeruRail has refurbished it for tourist cruises and charter work and has leased it for such uses.

• 2017Launch of the Sacred Valley serviceProduct launch

  PeruRail was expanding its tiered tourism proposition on routes serving Machu Picchu.

  What changed. The company introduced a Pullman-style Sacred Valley train with dining and observation facilities.

  Aftermath. The new service added a premium middle tier between basic tourist trains and the luxury Hiram Bingham product.

  Source
• 2017Introduction of the Belmond Andean ExplorerProduct launch

  PeruRail and Belmond sought to extend luxury rail tourism beyond the Machu Picchu corridor to the highland routes between Cusco, Puno, and Arequipa.

  What changed. Refurbished carriages formerly used by the Great South Pacific Express were placed into service as a luxury sleeper train.

  Aftermath. The product established multi-day overnight itineraries across the southern Peruvian Andes and complemented the daytime Titicaca Train.

  Source

1. PeruRail