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The tragic inclined railway incident in Portugal's capital that took 16 victims in early September was triggered by a damaged wire, per the authoritative probe issued on the start of the week.

The inquiry has recommended that Lisbon's similar vehicles stay out of service until their safety can be fully verified.

Details of the Devastating Event

This collision occurred when the 19th-century Elevador da Glória derailed and collided into a structure, horrifying the capital and sparking significant worries about the reliability of historic tourist attractions.

The country's transport safety authority (the investigative body) noted that a line linking two compartments had disconnected just before the incident on 3 September.

Preliminary Findings

This initial report indicated that the cable did not meet the required standards set by the local public transport company.

This wire did not comply with the standards mandated to be employed for the Glória funicular.

The detailed analysis further recommended that all cable cars in the city must stay suspended until inspectors can confirm they have effective braking systems capable of halting the cabins in the scenario of a wire failure.

Casualties and Harm

Of the 16 victims, 11 were non-Portuguese citizens, including 3 UK citizens, two South Koreans, two Canadian nationals, a citizen of France, a citizen of Switzerland, an citizen of the United States, and a citizen of Ukraine.

This accident also hurt approximately twenty people, among them 3 Britons.

The Portuguese fatalities included 4 staff members from the same social care institution, whose offices are located at the peak of the sheer side road used by the funicular.

Operational Information

The Elevador da Glória was inaugurated in the late 19th century, employing a system of counterweights to drive its two compartments along its 265-metre route climbing and descending a steep slope.

According to the bureau, a routine examination on the morning of the incident found no issues with the wire that subsequently failed.

This investigators also stated that the operator had applied the funicular's stopping mechanism, but they were unable to prevent the vehicle without the support of the counterweight system.

This complete event occurred in just 50 seconds, as stated by the investigation.

Future Actions

The bureau is anticipated to publish a final document with safety guidelines within the next year, though an intermediary update may offer additional updates on the status of the investigation.