Lisbon has been rocked by a horrific tragedy: the famed Gloria Funicular (Elevador da Glória) derailed, lost control, and crashed into a building at high speed. The accident claimed 17 lives, and 21 others were injured, seven of whom are in serious condition. Among the injured is a three-year-old child.
Authorities have identified the victims as nationals from several countries, including four from Portugal, two from Germany, and one each from Spain, Korea, Cape Verde, Canada, Italy, France, Switzerland, and Morocco, Observador reports.
The Lisbon Fire Department indicated that a severed cable in the funicular’s mechanism is the preliminary cause of the accident.
Carris, the company operating Lisbon’s trams and funiculars, stated that the last maintenance on the Gloria Funicular was conducted in 2024.
Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas expressed profound shock, stating that such a tragedy had never before occurred in the city.
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa conveyed “condolences and solidarity to the families affected by this tragedy, and hopes that the incident will be promptly clarified by the competent authorities.”
Many nations have extended their condolences to the families of the deceased and injured. Portugal has declared a National Day of Mourning.
How the “Elevador da Glória” System Works
Civil engineering professor Carlos Oliveira Cruz explained to Sicnoticias how the “Elevador da Glória” operated. He described the funicular as a two-vehicle system that works in pairs, connected by a cable. “The weight of the descending vehicle balances the ascending vehicle,” he clarified.
The cable connecting the two vehicles runs between the rails in a technical channel.
“In addition to this cable, there are also brakes that help stop the vehicle and, in critical situations, should assist in bringing it to a halt. It’s possible that there were simultaneous failures, especially since the system’s safety relies on more than just one component,” Carlos Oliveira Cruz added.
History of Gloria Funicular
NEWSROOM IN notes that the Gloria Funicular, which connects Restauradores Square and Príncipe Real, is a true symbol of Lisbon and holds the status of a national monument.
The oldest of Lisbon’s three funiculars, it began its service on October 24, 1885. It emerged in Lisbon during a period of rapid urban development, becoming a reliable link between two distinct areas: the bustling, lively city center and the quiet, bohemian district at the top of the hill.
Initially, the funicular operated on a water counterweight system: one car descended, heavy with ballast, while the other, freed from weight, easily ascended. Later, its propulsion was replaced by steam power, and in 1912, it was electrified.
The route spans 265 meters, and the funicular can transport up to 42 passengers simultaneously.
The funicular has witnessed millions of stories, forever intertwining itself with the city’s fate. It has seen lovers, tourists discovering Lisbon for the first time, and locals who relied on it as a loyal friend and helper. After a century and a half, it retained its original, romantic appearance, continuing to connect two parts of the city and preserving memories.
