Lisbon Funicular Crash Probe Finds Non‑Certified Cable, Triggers Citywide Safety Checks

Overview

• The cable that linked the Elevador da Glória cabins failed at its fixation point and was not certified nor compliant with Carris specifications, according to the GPIAAF preliminary report released Monday.
• Investigators found maintenance omissions, insufficient staff training, and inadequate supervision of the contracted service provider.
• Work logs recorded inspections as completed on the day of the accident, yet evidence indicates they were not performed at the times stated.
• The rupture location cannot be examined during routine checks without immobilizing the cabins and dismantling components, a process requiring at least two days of stoppage.
• GPIAAF recommended keeping Lisbon’s other funiculars out of service until cable fixation and braking systems are verified to stop cabins in the event of a cable break; the September 3 derailment killed 16 people and injured about two dozen.