Portugal Mourns 17 Killed In Lisbon Funicular Crash Amid Questions Over Maintenance

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

LISBON (Worthy News) – Portugal declared a national day of mourning Thursday after at least 17 people were killed and 21 others injured when the Glória funicular in central Lisbon derailed and slammed into a building, raising questions about maintenance.

The crash occurred when the cable-pulled hillside tramway sped out of control just after 6 p.m. Wednesday local time on Rua da Glória, a steep street in downtown Lisbon. Footage showed the yellow-and-white car toppling on its side, its metal frame crushed.

Witnesses said the vehicle careened downhill uncontrollably. “It hit the building with brutal force and fell apart like a cardboard box,” Teresa d’Avó told Portuguese television. Another resident described panic as passengers were pulled from the wreckage, with cobblestones and broken rails scattered across the street.

Authorities confirmed that among the victims were Portuguese citizens as well as people from Germany, Spain, Canada, Cape Verde, France, Italy, Morocco, South Korea, and Switzerland. Several people later died in the hospital, raising the toll from 15 to 17.

Prosecutors opened a formal investigation amid reports that the crash may have been caused by a loose cable or brake failure. Lisbon suspended its other funiculars pending inspections.

Local media noted the Glória line has a history of maintenance issues, including a 2018 derailment. Upkeep has been outsourced since 2011, with the most recent major maintenance in 2022 and interim work completed in 2024. Carris, the municipal operator, insisted all protocols had been followed.

LONG HISTORY

Opened in 1885 and electrified in 1915, the Glória funicular carries about 3 million passengers annually. Each car holds roughly 40 people and is linked to its twin by a cable that counterbalances their journeys up and down Lisbon’s hillside.

European leaders expressed condolences. “It is with sadness that I learned of the derailment of the famous Elevador da Glória,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on social media.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called it a “terrible accident” and voiced solidarity with Portugal.

Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro declared Thursday a national day of mourning because the tragedy had “brought grief to families and dismay to the country.”

Lisbon’s Mayor Carlos Moedas, visiting the site, added: “This is a tragedy that has never happened before in our city. It’s a very tragic day.”

Yet questions remained over what officials view as the deadliest funicular disaster in Portugal’s history.

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