The highlight of most Peru holidays is undoubtedly Machu Picchu and even though we think that there is so much more to Peru than this, it's hard to argue with one of the acknowledged wonders of the world so anything that makes visiting Machu Picchu on your holiday in Peru easier is to be welcomed.
Currently, the only company operating trains to and from Machu Picchu has been PeruRail - owned by the Bermuda-based Orient Express company. The service is good but many people have felt for a while that it could be more frequent, and more competitively-priced.
The big news this week is that the government has now approved licences for two new companies, Andean Railways and InkaRail (respectively Anglo-Peruvian and American-Peruvian) to begin operations on the line. It's not clear exactly when the new services will start running but the general feeling in Peru is that the increased competition can only be a good thing!