Tragic Lisbon Funicular Crash: Investigators Reveal Cable Snap Details Before Incident

Portuguese authorities are investigating a tragic funicular crash in Lisbon that left 16 people dead and around 20 injured. Initial reports show that a cable connecting the two carriages snapped, resulting in the upper carriage of the historic Glória funicular crashing into a building.

The national transport safety office noted that all other mechanisms were functioning well. When the cable broke, the brakeman attempted to engage emergency brakes, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the derailment. At the moment of the crash, the funicular was traveling at approximately 60 km/h (37 mph).

Among the deceased, five were Portuguese citizens, while others included tourists from the UK, South Korea, Canada, the US, Ukraine, Switzerland, and France. The Glória funicular, a piece of operating history for 140 years, serves as vital transport for locals and a popular attraction for visitors.

Investigators found that the cable had a lifespan of 600 days and had been in use for only 337 days. This raises questions about maintenance practices and safety protocols. It’s uncertain how many passengers were in the carriage, which can hold about 40, or how many people were on the street at the time of the accident.

Some reports suggest that the automatic brake may not have engaged as intended, even after the brakeman activated both the pneumatic and manual brakes. Six injured individuals required intensive care, while three suffered minor injuries.

Prime Minister Luis Montenegro called this incident “one of the biggest tragedies of our recent past.” The investigation is ongoing, and a preliminary report is expected within 45 days. Experts emphasize the importance of improving safety measures for public transport, particularly systems that have a rich history but also face modern challenges.

Understanding past incidents can provide valuable lessons for the future. For example, after a series of train accidents in the UK during the 1990s, significant legislation around safety standards was imposed, resulting in better management and maintenance protocols.

As we await more details, the focus remains on ensuring safety in transport to prevent such tragedies in the future.



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