The GPIAAF (government safety agency) report into the 3 September deadly accident on the 1885 Glória funicular, published on 20 October, found that although the cable had been inspected on the morning of the crash (but not the fixing to the car, which had last been checked in September 2024), the cable used was not fit for purpose nor certified for use on public transport. The cable was purchased by contractor MAIN in 2022 and was 337 days into its 600-day replacement period. There was no effective oversight of MAIN by the city’s network operator Carris and there was evidence that maintenance tasks recorded as having been performed did not always reflect the work that had been carried out..
The car was carrying 38 passengers. Without the counterbalance effect, there was no way of stopping the descending car despite the brakeman’s best efforts on both pneumatic and hand brakes. All the funiculars should remain out of service until an effective system is in place to stop a runaway car. The city council has assembled a team of Carris engineers, experts from universities and the civil engineering institute to develop new safety mechanisms and implement a new safety management system in line with European best practice.
The report was published a few days after elections that saw incumbent mayor Carlos Moedas re-elected.
The tragic scene the morning after the accident. (P de M. Moreira)
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