A preliminary report investigating the fatal funicular crash in Lisbon last month has uncovered a series of significant failings. The accident, which tragically resulted in 16 fatalities, including three British nationals, has pointed to critical issues with the infrastructure and safety protocols.
According to Portugal’s Air and Rail Accident Investigations Bureau, the underground cable that acted as a counterweight between the two carriages and ultimately broke was found to be defective. Alarmingly, this crucial component had never been certified for passenger transportation. The report indicates that the cable was not technically suitable for its purpose and was acquired in 2022 by Carris, the company responsible for Lisbon’s public transport.
The 140-year-old Glória funicular, a popular attraction for tourists, derailed and collided with a building on September 3rd. In addition to the fatalities, 20 other individuals sustained injuries.
Further details from the preliminary report reveal a lack of engineering oversight from Carris, with the cable not undergoing pre-installation testing. The maintenance and supervision of the funicular, which had been outsourced by Carris, also appear to have been inadequate, with suggestions that the Glória funicular may have been given a clean bill of health on the morning of the disaster without a proper inspection having taken place.
Adding to the concerns, the state body responsible for overseeing Lisbon’s funiculars reportedly failed to include the Glória funicular in its oversight, as required. The emergency brake system, which the driver attempted to engage when the cable snapped, also failed to function correctly and had not been tested beforehand, the report states.
Lisbon’s mayor, Carlos Moedas, who was recently re-elected, commented on the report, stating that it “reaffirms that the unfortunate tragedy… was due to technical and not political causes.”
Carris, in a statement, noted that it is currently not possible to determine if the non-compliant cable played a role in the accident, despite the report mentioning that similar cables had been in use for 601 days without incident. The company emphasized that while the cables were installed under the current board, their acquisition predates their tenure.
A comprehensive final report is expected within approximately 11 months. In the interim, all of Lisbon’s cable cars have been taken out of service pending the completion of necessary safety checks.