European Railroad Discussion > Lisbon transit Accident reports 15 dead

At work but I keep hearing about this on radio news.  Will read about it later but different links call it a streetcar, others a funicular and one called it a cable car.  Can anyone explain exactly what happen and what kind of vehicle was involved.  Thanks.

stevelv Wrote:
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> At work but I keep hearing about this on radio
> news.  Will read about it later but different
> links call it a streetcar, others a funicular and
> one called it a cable car.  Can anyone explain
> exactly what happen and what kind of vehicle was
> involved.  Thanks.

News has now figured out that it is a funicular. Very tragic.

What to know: Tourist-favorite Lisbon streetcar derails, leaving 15 dead | AP News



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/03/25 15:54 by ts1457.

Extensive discussion of the system and the accident on this UK site: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/lisbons-funicular-suffers-catastrophic-runaway-03-09.291700/#post-7453194
 

For those wondering about the other Lisbon inclines:
  -  Lavra is the same as Gloria, with cable connected cars and an idler pulley at the top, and electrically powered cars wired in series, plus [ at least ] air brakes
  -  Bica on the other hand is a 'true' funicular, with a winding engine at the top.  The overhead wires are for  communications [ and lighting ? ] only.  The cars have a stepped floor.
  -  The Graca incline was built new in 2024.  Interestingly in the period 1891-1912 there was a cable car line in that area that used gripper cars plus trailers.  It was converted to regular tramway operation.

When the Gloria was first built, it was one of those systems with the cars' water tanks filled at the top, and emptied at the bottom

Above info from The Tramways of Portugal by J.H. Price, '72 [ Second ] ed.

SZ