7.2.12 Elevador da Glória
At 1800 hours on the afternoon of Wednesday September 3rd, all was as usual in downtown Lisbon. The northbound side of the Avenida da Liberdade was choked with traffic heading home; no change there.
An hour later, Avenida da Liberdade was almost deserted, and down at Restauradores, the Police and other emergency services were out in force. A sea of blue lights was all that those looking down the hill could make out.
Ambulances kept on heading towards Restauradores. A serious accident had just happened.
Around 1805 hours, Car 1 of the Glória funicular had, apparently, come away from the cable which connects it to Car 2, and with no apparent brake force applied, gathered speed until it left the track and struck a building not far from the foot of Calçada da Glória. Car 1 ended up all but destroyed.
The suspicion that Car 1 had become detached from the cable was only reinforced by Car 2 ending up well below the usual point on the hill where it would have just picked up passengers. But it had at least stopped and allowed those on board to alight.
Both cars on the Glória funicular are connected to a cable which enables one car to ascend as the other car descends. Each car has a brakeman on board; one of those people is among the dead.
Why the accident occurred is now the subject of a Police investigation. What we do know is that at least 17 people have lost their lives in the accident. Portugal has a day of national mourning today. Lisbon has declared three days of mourning.
Carris has suspended service on both Bica and Lavra funiculars while checks are carried out.
If you’re in Lisbon right now, please keep clear of the accident site. There are alternative public transport options to enable punters to get from the Baixa area up to the Bairro Alto. Please be patient and understanding. That is all.
Ambulances kept on heading towards Restauradores. A serious accident had just happened.
Around 1805 hours, Car 1 of the Glória funicular had, apparently, come away from the cable which connects it to Car 2, and with no apparent brake force applied, gathered speed until it left the track and struck a building not far from the foot of Calçada da Glória. Car 1 ended up all but destroyed.
The suspicion that Car 1 had become detached from the cable was only reinforced by Car 2 ending up well below the usual point on the hill where it would have just picked up passengers. But it had at least stopped and allowed those on board to alight.
Both cars on the Glória funicular are connected to a cable which enables one car to ascend as the other car descends. Each car has a brakeman on board; one of those people is among the dead.
Why the accident occurred is now the subject of a Police investigation. What we do know is that at least 17 people have lost their lives in the accident. Portugal has a day of national mourning today. Lisbon has declared three days of mourning.
Carris has suspended service on both Bica and Lavra funiculars while checks are carried out.
If you’re in Lisbon right now, please keep clear of the accident site. There are alternative public transport options to enable punters to get from the Baixa area up to the Bairro Alto. Please be patient and understanding. That is all.
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