🔗 Share this article Faulty Line Led to Lisbon Inclined Railway Crash, Inquiry Finds The fatal cable car accident in Lisbon that took 16 people in the beginning of September was caused by a defective cable, according to the formal inquiry published on the start of the week. The investigation has recommended that Lisbon's similar vehicles stay halted until their safety can be fully assured. Details of the Tragic Incident The accident happened when the 19th-century Glória cable car left the rails and smashed into a edifice, stunning the capital and sparking serious concerns about the security of historic visitor sites. The nation's transport safety authority (GPIAAF) noted that a wire joining two compartments had detached shortly before the tragedy on 3 September. Preliminary Findings This preliminary analysis indicated that the cable was not up to the specified requirements outlined by the urban transport operator. This cable was not in compliance with the requirements currently applicable to be used for the Glória cable car. The detailed report additionally recommended that all cable cars in Lisbon must be kept suspended until inspectors can confirm they have sufficient braking systems designed of stopping the cars in the event of a wire failure. Victims and Casualties Of the sixteen casualties, 11 were foreign nationals, including 3 British individuals, 2 South Koreans, 2 Canadian nationals, one Frenchwoman, a Swiss national, an American, and a citizen of Ukraine. The accident also injured around twenty persons, including 3 UK nationals. The Portuguese fatalities included 4 workers from the same care facility, whose premises are located at the peak of the steep alley serviced by the inclined railway. Historical Information This Glória funicular was inaugurated in 1885, using a method of counterweights to propel its two compartments along its 265-metre route up and down a precipitous hill. Based on investigators, a standard inspection on the day of the incident detected nothing unusual with the line that subsequently failed. The probers also noted that the operator had activated the funicular's braking system, but they were incapable to stop the vehicle without the support of the balancing mechanism. The entire crash occurred in merely under a minute, as stated by the inquiry. Future Actions This investigative body is expected to publish a conclusive analysis with operational recommendations within the coming year, though an preliminary update may deliver more information on the development of the probe.