Damaged Wire Led to Lisbon Inclined Railway Crash, Inquiry Finds
The deadly cable car incident in Portugal's capital that cost 16 people in the beginning of September was attributed to a damaged line, according to the official investigation issued on Monday.
This investigation has recommended that Lisbon's comparable vehicles be kept out of service until their security can be completely confirmed.
Details of the Tragic Incident
This collision occurred when the old Glória cable car went off track and smashed into a structure, horrifying the city and sparking serious concerns about the reliability of ageing landmarks.
The nation's accident investigation agency (the investigative body) reported that a line linking two cabins had detached moments before the crash on September 3rd.
Early Results
The preliminary document indicated that the line failed to meet the required standards established by the local transit authority.
This line failed to comply with the requirements mandated to be used for the Glória funicular.
The 35-page document also advised that all funiculars in the capital must remain suspended until authorities can confirm they have effective stopping mechanisms capable of stopping the cabins in the scenario of a line snap.
Victims and Harm
Of the 16 fatalities, eleven were foreign nationals, featuring 3 British individuals, two South Koreans, 2 Canadian nationals, one French national, a Swiss, an US national, and one citizen of Ukraine.
The crash also harmed about 20 persons, including 3 Britons.
The national victims comprised four employees from the equivalent care facility, whose premises are positioned at the top of the steep street accessed by the funicular.
Historical Context
This Glória funicular was inaugurated in 1885, employing a mechanism of balancing weights to move its 2 wagons along its long path climbing and descending a precipitous slope.
Based on investigators, a routine examination on the date of the accident detected nothing unusual with the line that subsequently failed.
This probers also reported that the conductor had applied the vehicle's braking system, but they were powerless to prevent the carriage without the assistance of the balancing mechanism.
This entire event transpired in merely under a minute, as stated by the investigation.
Next Steps
The agency is scheduled to issue a conclusive report with security guidelines within the following twelve months, though an interim document may offer additional information on the progress of the investigation.