Lisbon Funicular: Accident happened "in less than 50 seconds," cause revealed by investigation

Cabin No. 2 then "completely lost its guidance, striking the upper part of the cabin laterally against the wall of the building located on the left side of the Calçada," the Investigation Bureau further wrote, "which initiated the destruction of the wooden box." The vehicle then struck "head-on a public lamppost and a support for the elevator's overhead electrical network, both made of cast iron, which caused very significant damage to the box." The cabin then ended up "against the corner of another building."

The imbalance caused by the cable break between the two cabins caused a chain reaction that ended in disaster. Cabin No. 2, which was at the bottom of Calçada da Glória, rolled back "suddenly" and Cabin No. 1, at the top of the route, "continued its downward movement at an increasing speed," despite the driver's attempts to brake, investigators said. It was this cabin that completely lost control and arrived at a bend at the bottom of Calçada at an excessively high speed, encountering a bend "in its final section," after 170 m of descent.

According to the investigators' report, the funicular was stopped around 6 p.m., with its two cabins at their respective parking spots to accommodate passengers. It was after departure a few minutes later that the cable disconnected for reasons that remain unclear. "A few moments after departure and after traveling approximately six meters," the cabins "suddenly lost the balance guaranteed by the connecting cable that unites them," the Bureau of Investigation further states.

To understand the accident, you need to understand how the Gloria funicular works. Since 1914, it has consisted of two yellow carriages that ascend and descend an average 18% gradient over 276 meters, a difference in altitude of 45 meters. The two cabins ascend and descend alternately using a counterweight system. "The cabins are connected to each other by a cable that balances their weight via a large reversible wheel located at the top of the Calçada da Glória in an underground technical compartment," the investigators state in their report. The cable is buried and therefore invisible.

The Air and Rail Accident Investigation Bureau (GPIAAF) released initial findings this Saturday evening from the investigation into the causes of the accident, which left at least 16 dead and around twenty injured. The derailment was caused by "the disconnection of the cable between the two cabins" making up the Gloria funicular, which were connected to each other. According to the initial findings of the investigation, the collision "occurred at a speed of around 60 km/h" and all the events that caused the tragedy "took place in less than 50 seconds."