Word is that the Centro Andino Railway in Peru (Now the world’s second highest) is planning to reinstate passenger service from Lima to Huancayo. The specifics aren’t clarified yet, but it has been said that service will operate on the weekends roundtrip for about $70.
Before the Chinese completed their Tibet line this past summer, it was the highest railway in the world. Although outranked now, it still is a fabulous trip, using Alco locomotives, switchbacks and numerous tunnels. Rumor is the equipment will be First-class tourist equipment that is similar in use to that between Cuzco and Machu Picchu. Also, last week began the regauging of the Huancayo and Huancavelica narrow-gauge railway to standard. It appears that maybe the two lines may coincide for through passenger service, considering the fact that the HyH line is the only regularly scheduled passenger still operated by the government. The government for years has been trying to develop tourism in the remote region of Huancavelica. Hope this pans out into more than just a rumor. But what an experience!!!
I will attempt to post more information as it becomes available.
Airfares are reasonable out of Miami for about $500, if you decide to make the trip.
Here is the corporate link, however there isn’t any news posted regarding the service as of yet.
http://www.rrdc.com/op_peru_fcca.html
Oversearailway
Good news, hope, they fulfil what they promised.However, is Cuzco-Machu Pichu not narrow-gauge? So, a change of trains would be necessary anyhow.
BTW, the Central Andino (former Central of Peru) has ruling grades of 8% in direction of Oroya in the highlands of Peru. It has largely been surveyed, engineered and built by a US-citizen, Henry (?) Meiggs. Rumor is, he ran away from his creditors from the USA to Latin America, where he built several railroads.
The equipment to be used on the Centro Andino will be first-class tourist equipment, similar to that used on “Perurail” which operates charter trips on the “Southern Railway of Peru” line between Arequippa and Puno/Cuzco. This line is standard gauge. The Cuzco - Machu Picchu line is narrow-gauge, but utilizes first-class rail car and other equipment (Bingham train).
The Centro Andino operates from Lima (Callao) to Huancayo and is standard gauge. The Ferrocarril Huancayo y Huancavelica operates between the namesake cities and is narrow-gauge, but is being “DUAL-GAUGED” at the moment. Hopefully they will operate service over the entire line when it is completed. The owner of the Centro Andino has a standard-gauge Andes class Hunslet steam locomotive which is in operating condition and available for charter. It would be great if they could operate it over the HyH line to Huancayo.
Regarding connecting service from the Centro Andino to Cuzco…a line doesn’t exist. The HyH line from Huancayo was originally meant to be constructed to Cuzco by Ayacucho, but like most railroad projects never got beyond paper. The HyH instead built to Huancavelica for the mercury mines and immediate traffic. Had the line been finished, who knows what we would have today!
Oversearailway
I forgot to mention one important point. The Lima-Oroya-line has 8% maximum grade with straight adhesion, no rack and cog system!