Lisbon Streetcar Cable Failure Causes 16 Deaths, 21 Injuries

A preliminary investigative report into the deadly Lisbon streetcar derailment found that the cable connecting the two cabins snapped, causing the upper cabin to lose balance and accelerate uncontrollably down a steep hill. Despite the brakeman's attempt to apply both pneumatic and hand brakes, the cabin continued to speed downhill, ultimately crashing and killing 16 people while injuring 21 others. The funicular, named Elevador da Glória, has been in operation since 1914 and functions by using the descending car’s weight to pull up the other cabin via steel cables. Victims included citizens from Portugal, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Korea, the United States, France, Switzerland, and Ukraine. Investigators noted that while the cable failure was clear, the exact cause of the cable snapping remains unknown, and the remainder of the cable and its attachment on the other cabin showed no anomalies. A final detailed report is expected, with an interim report to be issued if the full report is delayed beyond one year.