Lisbon Catastrophe Report: Connection to Deadly Monorail Severed by Cutting of Cable
In a tragic turn of events, Lisbon's famous tourist attraction, the Elevador da Glória, was the site of an accident on Wednesday evening. This marked the first such incident in the history of the city's three funiculars.
The investigation commission in Portugal reported that 16 people died and 21 were injured in the accident. Among the fatalities were 11 foreigners, including the operator, and five Portuguese nationals.
The cable car accident occurred as the vehicle was in motion, derailing after approximately 170 meters at a curve. The train collided with a street lamp post and a cast iron utility pole.
The cable used in the Lisbon cable car consisted of six strands, each with 36 steel wires and a fiber core. The total diameter of the cable is 32 millimeters, and its breaking load is approximately 68 tons. According to the GPIAAF report, the cable present at the time of the accident had been in use for 337 days. The cable was scheduled to be replaced in less than nine months.
The failure occurred at the attachment point on the upper part of the vehicle involved in the accident. It is suspected that the pressure air brake system either failed or was insufficient, leading to the cable detaching from the vehicle shortly after the start of the journey. Despite the operator applying the pressure air brake and the hand brake, these measures had no effect.
The Elevador da Glória, one of the most famous tourist attractions in Lisbon, annually transports around three million passengers. Before the accident, the company Carris, a municipal enterprise, was responsible for operating the funicular, while maintenance and upkeep were carried out by external contractors. For the past 14 years, the private company Main Energy was engaged for maintenance, and in 2022 a new contract was signed with MNTC - Serviços técnicos de engenharia, Lda.
A German passenger initially believed to be dead was later found alive but seriously injured in a hospital. The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing, and further updates will be provided as information becomes available.
Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those affected by this tragic incident. The Elevador da Glória has temporarily closed, and the city of Lisbon is working to ensure the safety of all its attractions for tourists and residents alike.
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