A preliminary investigation into the funicular crash in Lisbon on September 3, which resulted in the deaths of 16 individuals, has highlighted several failures surrounding the incident. The Air and Rail Accident Investigations Bureau of Portugal reported that an underground cable, which served as a counterweight for the funicular and broke during operation, was defective. Additionally, this cable had not been certified for passenger transportation. The cable was acquired in 2022 by Carris, the company responsible for Lisboa’s public transport services.
The 140-year-old Glória funicular, known for its tourist appeal, derailed and collided with a building. Among the deceased were 11 foreign nationals, including three from the UK. The preliminary findings indicated a lack of oversight by Carris engineers, and the cable was not tested prior to installation.
The report also pointed out deficiencies in the maintenance and supervision of the funicular by a third-party company contracted by Carris. This company reportedly cleared the Glória funicular for operation on the morning of the incident, though it remains unclear if this inspection actually took place.
Despite the driver’s attempt to engage the emergency brake when the cable failed, the report noted that the system had not been tested in advance and did not function as intended. However, the preliminary report underscored that the information collected thus far is “incomplete,” requiring further testing and analysis. The report cautioned against presuming guilt or responsibility of any involved parties.
Lisbon’s Mayor, Carlos Moedas, stated on television that the report affirms the tragedy was caused by technical issues rather than political ones. Carris reiterated that it cannot currently determine the relevance of the cable’s non-compliance to the accident, noting that the cables had been functioning without incident for over 600 days.
The completion of the full report is anticipated to take about 11 months, while all Lisbon cable cars have been suspended from service pending necessary safety checks.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20pg8pzp2no?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss