Defective Line Resulted in Lisbon Cable Car Crash, Investigation Determines
The tragic cable car accident in Lisbon that claimed 16 people in early September was triggered by a faulty line, as stated by the formal investigation issued on Monday.
The investigation has recommended that Lisbon's equivalent vehicles remain halted until their safety can be completely confirmed.
Specifics of the Devastating Incident
The collision happened when the old Glória funicular left the rails and smashed into a building, horrifying the capital and sparking significant worries about the reliability of older tourist attractions.
Portugal's accident investigation agency (the bureau) reported that a wire joining two cars had come loose just before the crash on the third of September.
Preliminary Conclusions
The preliminary report confirmed that the cable did not meet the mandatory requirements set by the city's transit authority.
This line was not in compliance with the standards currently applicable to be employed for the Glória tram.
This 35-page document further recommended that all cable cars in Lisbon should be kept out of service until authorities can verify they have adequate brakes designed of stopping the cabins in the scenario of a line snap.
Fatalities and Injuries
Among the 16 fatalities, 11 were non-Portuguese citizens, including three UK individuals, 2 Korean nationals, 2 Canadians, one citizen of France, one Swiss national, an American, and one citizen of Ukraine.
The crash also hurt about twenty people, among them 3 Britons.
The Portuguese victims featured four workers from the identical care facility, whose offices are located at the peak of the steep street used by the cable car.
Operational Details
The Glória funicular was inaugurated in 1885, utilizing a method of counterweights to drive its two cars along its long track ascending and descending a steep hill.
Based on authorities, a routine check on the morning of the crash detected no issues with the wire that subsequently snapped.
The investigators also stated that the operator had activated the funicular's braking system, but they were unable to stop the car without the assistance of the counterweight system.
The entire incident transpired in only under a minute, as stated by the inquiry.
Future Measures
This bureau is anticipated to issue a definitive report with security guidelines within the next year, though an preliminary document may provide more details on the progress of the probe.