A minimum of 15 individuals lost their lives when a globally recognized funicular train went off the rails and toppled over in Lisbon, Portugal, on Wednesday.
A car on the Glória Funicular, which links Lisbon’s city center near Restauradores Square to the Bairro Alto neighborhood, went off track around 6:15 p.m. local time (1:15 p.m. E.T.). It then overturned and collided with a building. At least 23 others sustained injuries in the accident, with five in critical condition, reports .
“The government and the Prime Minister are deeply saddened by the accident on the Glória elevator in Lisbon this afternoon, and express their profound sympathy and support for the victims and their families,” stated the office of Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro in a . “The government is closely monitoring the situation and the response from various public medical emergency services, health facilities, civil protection, security forces, and transportation authorities.”
The Portuguese government declared Thursday as a day of national mourning.
Here’s what you should know about the deadly incident.
A System With 140 Years of History
The Glória Funicular is one of Lisbon’s three funicular elevators—cable railways that ascend and descend hills. Two trams are attached to opposite ends of a single cable, acting as counterweights. As one car descends, its weight assists the other car in ascending. While some funiculars operate without drivers, the Glória Funicular typically has a brakeman who manages the tram’s movement.
The Glória funicular, which first opened in 1885, was electrified in 1915. According to Lisbon’s city hall, the railway accommodates approximately 43 passengers per car and transports around three million passengers annually. It is a popular attraction for tourists, but is also used regularly by city residents. It was designated as a heritage site in 1995 and a national monument in 1997.
Investigation Underway to Determine Cause of Crash
Videos of the accident show the tram lying on its side, having crashed into a building on the area’s steep, narrow street, with parts of the tram damaged. The tram crashed on Rua da Gloria, in Lisbon’s center.
Eyewitnesses reported to that the funicular seemed to have lost control, colliding with the building with “brutal force” and disintegrating “like a cardboard box.”
The cause of the accident remains unknown. However, it appeared the car derailed. A source from the Lisbon Firefighters Regiment told that this may have been due to a loose cable that led to brake failure. Prosecutors have started an investigation into the crash.
Local media reported that emergency services sent 62 rescuers and 22 support vehicles to the scene. Lisbon’s City Council has suspended operation of other trams and has ordered immediate inspections.
Information on the Victims
City officials have confirmed that at least 15 individuals died and at least 23 were injured in the crash.
According to , a three-year-old child was among those injured. No children were among the 15 fatalities.
The transport workers’ union SITRA posted on social media that one of its members, André Marques, was killed in the accident, according to the .
The nationalities of all the victims have not been confirmed. However, Tiago Augusto, head of Portugal’s emergency services, indicated at the scene that both local and foreign names were among them. A South Korean citizen is among the casualties. NewsWire reports that Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular support to one person but is unaware of any Australians who were killed or seriously injured. According to , the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that two Spanish citizens were injured.
“I was saddened to hear about the derailment of the famous ‘Elevador da Glória,’” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on X. “My condolences go out to the families of the victims.”
“I am shocked by the terrible accident involving the Glória funicular in Lisbon,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez shared on X. “We send our love and support to the families of the victims and to the Portuguese people during this difficult time. We also wish the injured a speedy recovery.”
History of Maintenance Problems
According to local media, the Glória Funicular has had previous maintenance issues. In May 2018, one of the funicular cars derailed due to a significant maintenance failure of its wheels. However, the car did not overturn, and no injuries were reported, according to , a Portuguese daily national newspaper. The elevator was out of service for one month.
Workers have also reported maintenance issues on several occasions, reported. The railway’s maintenance has been outsourced to an external contractor since 2011 and has been managed by MAIN – Maintenance Engineering since 2022.
Pedro de Brito Bogas, head of Lisbon Carris, the municipal public transport company that operates Lisbon’s funicular lines, stated at the crash site on Wednesday that the company has “scrupulously followed” all maintenance protocols, according to local media.
Local media reports that the most recent interim maintenance operation, which occurs every two years, was carried out on the elevator between August 26 and September 30, 2024. Bogas stated that general maintenance takes place every four years and was last performed in 2022, adding that weekly and monthly maintenance, as well as daily inspections, are also conducted.
“At this point, we don’t even know if it was a maintenance issue. We’re investigating, the investigation is ongoing, and external entities are also investigating,” Bogas said. “Carris values safety very much.”
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