A recent official report indicates that a streetcar crash in Lisbon, Portugal, causing the death of 16 individuals, including three Canadians, and injuring 21 others, resulted from a steel cable failure and maintenance deficiencies. The incident, considered one of Lisbon’s most tragic events in recent history, involved a century-old funicular streetcar that operates on a steep hill alongside another car, serving as a popular tourist attraction in the city.
The streetcar lost control while descending the hill, leading to a derailment on a curve and a collision with a building, resulting in severe damage to the wooden cabin. Among the fatalities were 11 foreign nationals, including a couple from Quebec and a man from Ottawa.
According to the preliminary report released by the Office for Air and Rail Accident Prevention and Investigation, the underground steel cable connecting the two streetcar cars to balance their weight was found inadequate for the task. The cable was not certified for public transportation and was not installed following the manufacturer’s guidelines, despite being in service for less than a year.
The investigation highlighted several maintenance program discrepancies, citing instances of outdated or non-existent standards. Following the cable failure, safety mechanisms disabled the pneumatic brake system, rendering the manual brake insufficient to halt the streetcar’s descent. Authorities are also examining the need for enhanced streetcar brake systems.
The preliminary report does not assign liability but aims to provide insights into the incident. A comprehensive final report, expected next year, will delve deeper into the accident’s causes and implications.