Defective Wire Resulted in Lisbon Inclined Railway Crash, Probe Finds
This fatal funicular incident in Portugal's capital that cost 16 victims in early September was attributed to a faulty cable, according to the formal probe released on Monday.
This investigation has recommended that the city's similar cable cars be kept non-operational until their operational integrity can be thoroughly confirmed.
Specifics of the Deadly Accident
The crash happened when the old GlĂłria funicular left the rails and crashed into a structure, shocking the metropolis and sparking grave worries about the security of historic landmarks.
The country's transport safety authority (the bureau) noted that a line linking two cabins had come loose just before the tragedy on the third of September.
Preliminary Conclusions
The preliminary analysis indicated that the wire failed to meet the specified specifications set by the local public transport company.
The wire did not comply with the requirements currently applicable to be used for the GlĂłria funicular.
This comprehensive document further advised that all funiculars in Lisbon ought to remain suspended until inspectors can confirm they have effective braking systems able of halting the cabins in the event of a cable break.
Casualties and Harm
Among the sixteen victims, eleven were foreign nationals, including three British citizens, two Korean nationals, two Canadians, a citizen of France, one Swiss, one citizen of the United States, and one Ukrainian national.
The crash also hurt around 20 people, comprising three UK nationals.
The local victims included 4 workers from the identical welfare organization, whose premises are positioned at the peak of the steep alley serviced by the inclined railway.
Historical Context
This GlĂłria funicular was inaugurated in 1885, employing a method of balancing weights to drive its 2 compartments along its 265-metre track ascending and descending a steep hill.
According to the bureau, a regular check on the morning of the incident identified no issues with the cable that eventually snapped.
The investigators also stated that the conductor had activated the vehicle's braking system, but they were powerless to halt the carriage without the function of the counterweight system.
This whole event transpired in only 50 seconds, according to the investigation.
Future Actions
This agency is scheduled to release a conclusive analysis with security recommendations within the following twelve months, though an interim document may offer further information on the progress of the probe.
