A recent official preliminary report revealed that the crash of a streetcar in Lisbon, Portugal, last month, which tragically claimed the lives of 16 individuals, was attributed to the failure of a steel cable and maintenance deficiencies. Among the victims were three Canadians. The incident, considered one of Lisbon’s most severe tragedies in recent history, 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 lost control while descending the hill, eventually derailing on a bend and colliding with a building, resulting in extensive damage to the wooden cabin. Of the fatalities, 11 were foreigners, including a couple from Quebec and a man from Ottawa.
The Office for Air and Rail Accident Prevention and Investigation, a governmental body, highlighted in the report that the underground steel cable connecting the two cars and maintaining their weight equilibrium was inadequately strong for the task. The cable, in service for less than a year, lacked certification for public transport and was not installed following the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Moreover, the investigation identified several instances where the maintenance program failed to adhere to appropriate standards, leading to the cable’s failure. Following the cable breakage, safety mechanisms disengaged the power supply to the streetcar, rendering the pneumatic brake ineffective and the manual brake insufficient to halt the vehicle’s descent down the hill. The inquiry is also scrutinizing the need for enhancements to streetcar braking systems.
The preliminary report emphasized that its purpose is not to assign liability or fault but to provide initial insights into the incident. A comprehensive final report, expected next year, will delve deeper into the accident’s causes and implications.
