Damaged Line Caused Portuguese Capital Cable Car Crash, Investigation Reveals
This fatal cable car crash in Lisbon that took 16 people in early September was caused by a damaged line, according to the formal inquiry published on Monday.
The investigation has advised that Lisbon's similar transports be kept non-operational until their operational integrity can be thoroughly confirmed.
Specifics of the Tragic Incident
The crash happened when the old Glória cable car went off track and crashed into a structure, horrifying the metropolis and raising grave concerns about the reliability of historic landmarks.
The nation's transport safety authority (the bureau) stated that a line linking two compartments had disconnected moments before the crash on the third of September.
Initial Conclusions
The preliminary document confirmed that the wire failed to meet the specified requirements established by the city's transit authority.
This line failed to comply with the specifications in force to be utilized for the Glória tram.
The comprehensive document further advised that all funiculars in the city must be kept suspended until inspectors can ensure they have effective stopping mechanisms able of halting the cars in the event of a cable break.
Casualties and Injuries
Among the sixteen fatalities, eleven were foreign nationals, featuring 3 British nationals, two citizens of South Korea, two citizens of Canada, one citizen of France, one Swiss national, an citizen of the United States, and a Ukrainian national.
The accident also harmed around twenty persons, among them 3 Britons.
Among the local casualties comprised four workers from the same welfare organization, whose offices are located at the peak of the sheer alley used by the inclined railway.
Historical Information
The Elevador da Glória first opened in the late 19th century, employing a mechanism of balancing weights to move its 2 compartments along its long track climbing and descending a sharp slope.
As per the bureau, a routine check on the date of the incident found nothing unusual with the cable that subsequently broke.
This probers also stated that the conductor had engaged the vehicle's brakes, but they were powerless to halt the vehicle without the support of the counterweight system.
The whole crash unfolded in merely 50 seconds, as stated by the probe.
Next Steps
This agency is scheduled to issue a conclusive report with safety suggestions within the following twelve months, though an intermediary update may provide further details on the progress of the probe.