A recent official preliminary report revealed that a combination of a steel cable failure and maintenance deficiencies played a role in the tragic streetcar accident in Lisbon, Portugal, which claimed the lives of 16 individuals, including three Canadians, and left 21 others injured. The incident involving the century-old funicular streetcar, a popular tourist attraction in Lisbon, unfolded as the vehicle derailed while descending a steep hill, ultimately colliding with a building.
Among the victims were foreigners, including a Quebec couple and an Ottawa man. The Office for Air and Rail Accident Prevention and Investigation highlighted that the underground steel cable responsible for connecting and balancing the weight of the two streetcars was inadequate for public transport use, lacking the necessary certification and proper installation according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
The report further disclosed that the maintenance program exhibited shortcomings with references to obsolete or irrelevant standards in five different instances. Following the cable’s failure, safety mechanisms disengaged power to the streetcar, rendering the pneumatic brake ineffective and the manual brake insufficient to prevent the vehicle from careening down the hill. Authorities are also exploring potential enhancements to the streetcar braking system.
It is crucial to note that the preliminary report does not assign fault or determine culpability, with a comprehensive final report anticipated next year after a more thorough examination of the accident.