An official preliminary report revealed that a streetcar crash in Lisbon, Portugal, which led to the deaths of 16 individuals, including three Canadians, and injuries to 21 others, was caused by a steel cable failure and maintenance issues. The incident, considered one of Lisbon’s worst tragedies in recent times, involved a century-old streetcar known as a funicular due to its operation on a steep hill alongside another car, serving as a popular tourist attraction in the city.
The streetcar veered off the rails while descending the hill, ultimately colliding with a building and leaving the wooden cabin severely damaged. Among the deceased were 11 foreigners, including a couple from Quebec and a man from Ottawa.
The government’s Office for Air and Rail Accident Prevention and Investigation detailed in the report that the underground steel haulage cable connecting the two cars and maintaining their balance was not adequate for its intended purpose. The cable, which had been in use for less than a year, lacked proper certification for public transportation and had not been installed according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
The investigation highlighted deficiencies in the maintenance program, citing instances where standards referred to were either non-existent, inapplicable, or outdated. Following the cable’s failure, safety mechanisms disengaged power to the streetcar, rendering the pneumatic brake ineffective, and the manual brake insufficient to halt the vehicle’s descent down the hill. Authorities are also examining the need for enhancements to streetcar braking systems.
The preliminary report emphasized that its purpose was not to assign blame or establish liability. A comprehensive final report, offering a more thorough analysis of the accident, is anticipated to be released next year.