A preliminary report into last month's funicular crash in Lisbon that killed 16 people has detailed a litany of failings.
Portugal's Air and Rail Accident Investigations Bureau stated that the underground cable, which served as a counterweight and broke during the accident, was defective and lacked certification for passenger transport. This cable was technically unsuitable and had been acquired in 2022 by Carris, the operator of Lisbon's public transport, which has since dismissed the head of maintenance.
The historic Glória funicular, a popular tourist attraction, derailed and crashed into a building on September 3rd. The tragic incident claimed the lives of 11 foreigners, including three British nationals, and left another 20 injured.
According to the report, there was insufficient oversight from Carris engineers, and the cable was not tested prior to installation. The emergency brake system, which the driver attempted to activate when the cable snapped, also failed to function correctly.
Lisbon's Mayor, Carlos Moedas, stated that the findings confirm technical failures were responsible. Carris has stated it is not yet clear whether these cable irregularities influenced the accident, as the cables had been in use for over 600 days without incident.
The report emphasizes that the investigation is ongoing, with additional testing required to determine all contributing factors to the disaster. In the meantime, safety measures have been initiated, including the suspension of all cable cars in Lisbon until they can be safely inspected.
The full report is expected to take 11 months, but a more detailed interim report will be released if needed.
