Lisbon funicular crash exposes safety flaws in city's old charm

The deaths of at least 16 people in the derailment of a historic Lisbon cable car have cast a spotlight on the city’s “old charm” image, revealing cracks in its ageing infrastructure amid a booming tourist industry.

On Wednesday, the tram left the tracks at a bend and collided with a building just metres from its twin at the bottom of the steep 265-metre slope. The wreckage was mangled, with passengers trapped inside, after the traction cable linking the two cars snapped.

Jorge Silva, vice-president of the Portuguese Association of Civil Protection Technical Experts, said that a car made from modern materials such as carbon fibre, rather than the century-old wood and metal design, could have reduced the severity of the crash.

“The components are rigid enough for normal operation, but they are not designed to absorb the impact of a derailment. They twist, leaving passengers more exposed,” Silva explained.

Lisbon’s trams, which run on similarly steep hills, still use mid-20th century designs. Silva stressed that investments should focus on modernising the carriages while preserving their historic appearance.

An investigation is underway to determine the role of the pendulum cable system in the accident.

The line has faced rising demand, with passenger numbers on the “Gloria” funicular tripling in the past decade to over three million annually. The two cars, each carrying around 40 passengers, operate in tandem, climbing and descending the slope via an electric motor pulling the connecting cable.

Manuel Leal, head of the Fectrans union, told local media that workers had previously flagged issues with cable tension affecting braking, though it is too early to confirm if this caused the crash. The municipal transport company, Carris, said that all scheduled maintenance had been completed. Silva suggested that more frequent and rigorous inspections may now be required to safely handle increased passenger loads.

Modernisation in Lisbon, however, is complicated by the city’s seismic risks. Experts warn that renovations on historic buildings, many of which were constructed shortly after the 1755 earthquake with pioneering anti-seismic designs, may undermine their structural integrity. While post-1958 buildings must comply with seismic standards, older structures undergoing renovation are not legally required to receive anti-seismic reinforcement.

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