“There were repeated complaints from workers about the tension levels in the support cables of the funiculars,” stated Manuel Leal, the union leader for the city’s public transit workers. “A thorough investigation into this disaster is necessary.”
Employees also connected the crash to broader budget reductions. Moedas faced criticism from opposition politicians last year after it was revealed that his administration redirected millions from Carris to fund the Web Summit technology conference. Municipal authorities later asserted that the public transit authority’s budget remained unchanged as EU funds compensated for rerouted finances.
The crash occurred in the late afternoon when a cable towing tram cars up Glória hill snapped, causing the vehicle to descend rapidly and crash into a building below.
Authorities reported that nearly all the victims “have foreign last names” and are presumed to be tourists. The crash resulted in several fatalities, with 23 passengers seriously injured, five critically. Following the disaster, Portugal’s government declared a day of national mourning on Thursday, with additional official mourning days in the capital.
The Glória Funicular, operational since 1885, initially served to transport residents from Rossio Square to Bairro Alto but has become a tourist attraction as Lisbon’s popularity surged. It’s common to see influencers lining up for photos on these railway cars, which have been designated as national monuments since 2002.
City authorities have temporarily suspended service on the city’s five funicular lines for infrastructure reviews by technicians.
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