Investigators attribute September’s Gloria funicular accident in Lisbon to maintenance violations.
The Gloria, popular with tourists, derailed on the evening of September 3, resulting in a tragic accident that killed 16 people, including 11 tourists, and injuring 20 others.
According to preliminary data, the accident occurred when a traction cable snapped. The Portuguese Aviation and Railway Accident Prevention and Investigation Authority (GPIAAF) said the cable was faulty and did not meet the certification required for passenger transport. The 35-page report states that the cable did not meet the requirements of Carris, the operator of Lisbon’s trams and funiculars.
Investigators noted that the rope, purchased in 2022, was not adequately monitored by Carris engineers, who failed to conduct necessary safety checks.
As a result of these findings, the company has announced the dismissal of the head of the technical maintenance department for funiculars and trams.
In addition to the rope malfunction, problems were also found in the emergency braking system, which the driver tried to use when the rope was cut, but it did not work and was not checked in advance.
