A preliminary report into last month's funicular crash in Lisbon that killed 16 people has detailed a litany of failings.
Portugal's Air and Rail Accident Investigations Bureau stated that an underground cable—serving as a counterweight between two carriages—broke, leading to the crash. This cable was found to be defective and had never been certified for passenger transport.
Acquired in 2022 by Carris, the company responsible for Lisbon's public transport, the cable was deemed technically unsuitable for the funicular operations. Subsequently, Carris has dismissed its head of maintenance for funiculars and trams.
The 140-year-old Glória funicular, a popular tourist attraction, derailed and crashed into a building on September 3. Among the dead were 11 foreigners, including three British nationals, with an additional 20 individuals injured.
The report released Monday indicated that Carris engineers failed to provide proper oversight, as the cable was not tested prior to installation. This negligence has raised concerns regarding the safety protocols in place for such transportation systems.
Further, the maintenance operations outsourced to another company were found to be ineffective, raising alarms about the all-clear status granted to the Glória funicular on the morning of the disaster, even though it's uncertain if the inspection actually occurred that day.
Despite the driver attempting to activate the emergency brake when the cable snapped, this system was reported to be malfunctioning and untested.
While the preliminary report emphasized the information gathered so far is incomplete, it remarked that the guilt or responsibility of any organisation or person involved in the incident should not be presumed. Lisbon's Mayor, Carlos Moedas, reiterated the technical nature of the tragedy, distancing it from political accountability.
Carris, in its response, noted that it is too early to determine if the cable's non-conformities were directly linked to the accident, as the same cable was utilized effectively for 601 days prior to the incident.
A comprehensive safety management system following European best practices is among the recommendations made by the report. Meanwhile, the operational suspension of all cable cars in Lisbon will persist until mandatory safety checks are conducted. Key areas of concern include revising braking systems to ensure they can halt carriages in the event of cable failure.
The full report is anticipated to be completed within 11 months, with a more detailed interim update expected sooner if necessary.
