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Lisbon’s Glória Funicular Derails, Killing at Least 15 Near Restauradores

A criminal case now focuses attention on maintenance practices, including a recently canceled tender.

Overview

  • The car left the rails around 18:10 local time and crashed into a nearby building, leaving about 20 injured, and victims include passengers, passersby, and the driver.
  • An engineering consultant to the city said a ruptured traction cable likely caused the loss of control, while investigators are also examining possible brake failure.
  • The Lisbon prosecutor opened a mass-casualty criminal file and reportedly placed the Carris chief executive and some technicians under investigation.
  • Carris stated it followed all maintenance protocols, citing a full overhaul in 2022 and an intermediate test in 2024, and authorities declared a day of national mourning.
  • Local reporting says a maintenance tender for the Elevador da Glória was canceled days before the crash, with unions having raised prior concerns about upkeep.