A recent official preliminary report revealed that a streetcar crash in Lisbon, Portugal, last month, which claimed the lives of 16 individuals, including three Canadians, and injured 21 others, was caused by a steel cable failure and maintenance deficiencies. The century-old streetcar, known as a funicular for its operation on a steep hill alongside another car, is a popular tourist attraction in the city. The tragic incident occurred when the streetcar derailed on a bend, careened down the hill, and collided with a building, resulting in significant damage to the wooden cabin. Authorities noted that 11 of the deceased were foreigners, including a couple from Quebec and a man from Ottawa.
The Office for Air and Rail Accident Prevention and Investigation, a governmental entity, highlighted in the report that the underground steel cable, responsible for connecting the two cars and balancing their weight, was not sufficiently robust for its intended purpose. Furthermore, the cable lacked certification for public transport and was not installed according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. The cable had been in operation for less than a year. The investigation identified instances where the maintenance program referenced obsolete or irrelevant standards. Following the cable failure, safety mechanisms disengaged the streetcar’s power, rendering the pneumatic brake ineffective and the manual brake insufficient to halt the vehicle’s descent down the hill. Authorities are also assessing the need for enhancements to the streetcar’s braking system.
It is important to note that the preliminary report aims to provide insights into the incident and is not meant to assign blame or liability. A comprehensive final report, based on a more thorough analysis of the accident, is anticipated to be released next year.