James Badcock
03 September 2025 7:34pm BST
Lisbon's iconic Gloria Funicular derails Credit: X/@mundo__vivo
Lisbon’s historic Glória funicular derailed on Wednesday, killing three people and injuring at least 20 more.
Footage showed emergency workers pulling people from the wreckage of the tram-like elevator, which carries people up and down a hillside in the Portuguese capital, after it crashed into a building.
It was not immediately confirmed what caused the crash. Local reports suggested a cable had come loose along the railway’s route, causing it to lose control.
Witnesses said they heard a loud noise before one of the trams began to hurtle down the steep slope.
The funicular derailed and crashed on Rua da Glória, which runs through the heart of Lisbon’s historic centre.
Officers were alerted to the incident shortly after 6pm. Lisbon firefighters rushed several vehicles and personnel to the scene to help rescue the injured.
The funicular crashed on Rua da Glória and emergency services rushed to pull passengers from the debris Credit: AP Photo/Armando Franca
Portugal’s national police force confirmed that there were several killed as a result of the crash but did not give a precise death toll.
Margarida Castro Martins, the director of Civil Protection, told the news agency Lusa that there were several passengers still trapped in the funicular at 6.20pm.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the president of Portugal, also confirmed that several people have died.
“The President of the Republic deeply regrets the accident that occurred this afternoon with the Glória funicular in Lisbon, particularly the fatalities and serious injuries, as well as the numerous minor injuries,” Mr Rebelo de Sousa said in a statement.
The president offered “his condolences and solidarity with the families affected by this tragedy and hopes that the cause of the incident will quickly be clarified by the relevant authorities.”
The crash occurred at about 6pm
The railway connects Lisbon’s Pombaline downtown with the central Bairro Alto district and is operated by Carris, a public transportation company in Lisbon.
Carris said that it had “activated all resources” and that its teams were on site.
The company said it had “immediately contacted emergency and security forces” after the derailing incident happened at 6.04pm.
The car at the bottom of the line was apparently undamaged, but CNN Portugal said passengers had to jump out of its windows when the incident happened.
Opened in 1885, the elevator – which is one of Lisbon’s main tourist attractions – transports more than three million passengers every year.
Its two cars are attached to opposite ends of a haulage cable with traction provided by electric motors.
The funicular route is 265 metres long.
Source (Archive)
Source (Archive)
Source (Archive)
03 September 2025 7:34pm BST
Lisbon's iconic Gloria Funicular derails Credit: X/@mundo__vivo
Lisbon’s historic Glória funicular derailed on Wednesday, killing three people and injuring at least 20 more.
Footage showed emergency workers pulling people from the wreckage of the tram-like elevator, which carries people up and down a hillside in the Portuguese capital, after it crashed into a building.
It was not immediately confirmed what caused the crash. Local reports suggested a cable had come loose along the railway’s route, causing it to lose control.
Witnesses said they heard a loud noise before one of the trams began to hurtle down the steep slope.
The funicular derailed and crashed on Rua da Glória, which runs through the heart of Lisbon’s historic centre.
Officers were alerted to the incident shortly after 6pm. Lisbon firefighters rushed several vehicles and personnel to the scene to help rescue the injured.
The funicular crashed on Rua da Glória and emergency services rushed to pull passengers from the debris Credit: AP Photo/Armando Franca
Portugal’s national police force confirmed that there were several killed as a result of the crash but did not give a precise death toll.
Margarida Castro Martins, the director of Civil Protection, told the news agency Lusa that there were several passengers still trapped in the funicular at 6.20pm.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the president of Portugal, also confirmed that several people have died.
“The President of the Republic deeply regrets the accident that occurred this afternoon with the Glória funicular in Lisbon, particularly the fatalities and serious injuries, as well as the numerous minor injuries,” Mr Rebelo de Sousa said in a statement.
The president offered “his condolences and solidarity with the families affected by this tragedy and hopes that the cause of the incident will quickly be clarified by the relevant authorities.”
The crash occurred at about 6pm
The railway connects Lisbon’s Pombaline downtown with the central Bairro Alto district and is operated by Carris, a public transportation company in Lisbon.
Carris said that it had “activated all resources” and that its teams were on site.
The company said it had “immediately contacted emergency and security forces” after the derailing incident happened at 6.04pm.
The car at the bottom of the line was apparently undamaged, but CNN Portugal said passengers had to jump out of its windows when the incident happened.
Opened in 1885, the elevator – which is one of Lisbon’s main tourist attractions – transports more than three million passengers every year.
Its two cars are attached to opposite ends of a haulage cable with traction provided by electric motors.
The funicular route is 265 metres long.
Source (Archive)
Source (Archive)
Source (Archive)
