The derailment at Lisbon revealed significant shortcomings in safety when it was found that funicular car made its run with an uncertified cable while employing outdated methods of maintenance led to the disaster.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Lisbon rail crash investigation reveals uncertified funicular car cable
A drone view shows the site of the accident after Gloria Funicular railway car, a popular tourist attraction, derailed and crashed, resulting in multiple casualties, according to authorities, in Lisbon, Portugal, September 4, 2025. REUTERS TV/via REUTERS/File Photo

Lisbon rail crash exposes uncertified cable in funicular car

Portugal’s Office for Air and Rail Accident Investigations (GPIAAF) verified that the cable used in the funicular car in the incident of the rail crash in Lisbon was not certified to transport passengers. The agency indicated that Carris, which is thereby operated transport of Lisbon’s, was based on obsolete security norms and did not revise its technical manuals over a number of years.

Don’t miss…CN Rail Land Agreement Advances Kitchener Line Expansion

Due to these failures, a number of precautionary checks had passed without being made, and a non-compliant cable continued to run. The Gloria funicular, which opened in 1885, transports some three million people annually and is a popular attraction. But when the cable ruptured in September, the downcoming car crashed into a building, killing 16 people and jolting the city.

Lisbon rail crash triggers overhaul of funicular maintenance standards

The investigators identified inconsistencies in recorded maintenance job completion. Certain technicians had indicated completion of jobs despite no inspection taking place. The falsified records, as highlighted by GPIAAF, stifled confidence in Carris’s own internal safety mechanisms.

Funicular maintenance was subcontracted in 2007, and auditors criticized weak control over outside contractors as well as inadequate quality control. The company since then made commitments to complete cooperation with regulators but said it is still unclear whether uncertified cable was directly responsible for the Lisbon rail crash.

Its end-of-next-september report is to study the chain of managerial and technical failures. Experts anticipate new certification regulations for everything from all cable to mechanical components, as well as tougher government inspections of funiculars on Lisbon’s network.

Source: www.reuters.com

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

Don’t miss…Alstom Train Upgrade Transforms South East England Fleet

What caused the Lisbon rail crash?

Investigators believe an uncertified cable and years of poor maintenance on the funicular car contributed to the Lisbon rail crash.

Who operates the funicular cars in Lisbon?

Carris, the city’s public transport company, manages the Gloria and other historic funiculars serving millions of passengers annually.

What safety changes are expected after the crash?

Portugal plans tighter inspection rules, certified component requirements, and third-party maintenance audits for all funicular systems.

Find the latest news of the railway industry in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and the rest of the world on our page on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, read Railway Supply magazine online.

Place your ads on webportal and in Railway Supply magazine. Detailed information is in Railway Supply media kit