A Polish resident living near the Gloria Funicular disaster site in Lisbon criticizes maintenance standards, citing everything is repaired “on a whim.”
Lisbon Funicular Criticized for Poor Maintenance
A Polish resident living near the site of the Gloria Funicular disaster in Lisbon has expressed concerns about the railway’s maintenance standards, stating that it seemed everything was repaired “on a whim.” The woman, who lives near the crash site, said she used the funicular daily and had long been concerned about its technical condition.
Welcoming, Yet Safety Concerns
Although the funicular transports over three million tourists annually, safety concerns have been repeatedly raised by both locals and visitors. Following a train derailment in 2018 due to poor wheel condition, the operator quickly performed inspections, claiming the vehicle would be in perfect condition for two years after repairs.
Lisbon Funicular Disaster Resulted in 16 Deaths
In September 2023, the Gloria Funicular derailed during a descent from the observation point of San Pedro de Alcantara, crashing into a building on Rua da Gloria. The Lisbon Civil Defense Department initially reported that at least 17 people lost their lives in the accident, later revising the figure to 16 fatalities and 21 injured passengers. Among the victims were 11 foreign nationals from Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Spain, South Korea, the Green Cape of Guinea, Canada, France, and Morocco, with the nationalities of four others remaining unknown.
