A drama fell on Lisbon Wednesday September 3 at the end of the day. Around 6 p.m., the “Elevador da Glória”, an emblematic funicular of the Portuguese capital, derailed in the middle of rush hour before crashing against a building. The toll is heavy: at least fifteen dead and eighteen wounded, five of which are in critical condition. Among the victims are foreign tourists and a child.
Inaugurated in 1885, this classified funiculary is one of the most popular attractions in Lisbon, connecting the Baixa district to Bairro Alto and carrying nearly three million passengers each year.
The first investigations evoke the breakdown of a traction cable, which would have led to the loss of control of the cabin. The Carris operator claims to have respected the regular maintenance program, but unions had already alerted to faults in the maintenance provided by the external company hand – Maintenance Engineering.
The mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, spoke of a “tragic day for our city”. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed his deep emotion and presented his condolences to the families of the victims. The Portuguese government has a day of national mourning day, while the municipality of Lisbon has extended mourning over three days. All the capital’s funicular lines were suspended for inspection.
An investigation was opened to determine the exact causes of the accident. This drama occurs in a context of strong tourist crowds, and risks tarnishing the image of Lisbon, even though the city presents itself as a flagship destination in Europe.
The “Elevador da Glória” had already experienced an incident in 2018, without victims. This time, the tragedy marks a turning point: the security of Portuguese historic infrastructure is now at the heart of the public debate.
