On September 3, 2025, a devastating accident occurred when one of Lisbon’s historic funicular streetcars, the Elevador da Glória, derailed and crashed into a building. The incident resulted in 16 confirmed deaths and 23 injuries, including five individuals in critical condition. AP News
Incident Details
The funicular, a popular tourist attraction connecting Bairro Alto and Restauradores Square, was descending a steep slope when the cable connecting the two cars snapped. This failure rendered both the pneumatic and manual brakes ineffective. Despite emergency efforts by the operator, the top car accelerated uncontrollably and crashed into a building at approximately 60 km/h within 50 seconds. The Guardian
Victims and Nationalities
Among the deceased were 11 foreign nationals, including individuals from the United Kingdom, South Korea, Canada, France, Switzerland, the United States and Ukraine. The Guardian The Portuguese driver, André Jorge Gonçalves Marques, was also among the victims. People.com
Investigation and Safety Measures
A preliminary report by Portugal’s air and rail accident bureau (GPIAAF) revealed that the snapped cable caused the tragic crash. The cable had been in use for 337 days of its 600-day operational life, and all maintenance was reportedly up to date. The Guardian
In response to the incident, the Lisbon city council has initiated efforts to design a new safety mechanism to prevent future accidents. An expert team, including representatives from Carris (the public transport operator), academic institutions, Portugal’s engineering regulatory body, and the National Civil Engineering Laboratory (LNEC), has been formed to develop and implement these safety improvements. Reuters
National Mourning
In the wake of this tragedy, Portugal declared a national day of mourning on September 4, 2025. The city of Lisbon observed three days of mourning, with memorial services held at the Igreja de São Domingos and the Igreja de São Roque. European Parliament flags were flown at half-mast to honour the victims. Wikipedia
Sources:
- Reuters – Lisbon to design new mechanism ensuring funicular safety after crash
- The Guardian – Lisbon funicular cable snapped before deadly crash, report finds
- AP News – Report on deadly Portugal streetcar derailment describes failure of cable connecting cabins
- People – Death Toll Climbs to 16 After Tourist Attraction Derails as Witness Says Streetcar Crumpled Like ‘Cardboard Box’
- ABC7 – Lisbon, Portugal funicular crash victims were mostly foreigners, including 1 American: police
- Reuters – Portugal investigates crash on historic Lisbon funicular that killed 16
- OPB – Portugal observes national day of mourning as Lisbon funicular crash death toll rises
