What is the name of the railway line that reaches the highest altitude in the Americas?

The railway line that reaches the highest altitude in the Americas is the Ferrocarril Central Andino. This Peruvian railway climbs from the Pacific port of Callao and Lima across the Andes toward Huancayo and Cerro de Pasco.

Its highest point is the Galera summit tunnel, about 4,783 metres above sea level. The line opened through the Galera area in 1890 and reached La Oroya in 1893, after engineers overcame steep gradients, rugged terrain, and high-altitude conditions. Polish engineer Ernest Malinowski played a major role in its design and construction.

The route is famous for its spectacular engineering: it includes dozens of tunnels, bridges, and zigzags that help trains gain elevation. It was once the world’s highest railway, but that distinction passed to China’s Qinghai–Tibet Railway after its opening in 2006.

“Transandean Railway” and “Ferrocarril Trasandino” are broad or alternative descriptions for Andean railways, while the Cusco–Machu Picchu line is a different Peruvian route at a lower maximum altitude.