Lisbon Tragedy account: Link to deadly monorail detached

The evening of Wednesday saw a tragic accident in Lisbon, Portugal, as the cable of the famous Elevador da Glória cable car detached, leading to a derailment, collision, and subsequent crash.

The cable, with a total diameter of 32 millimeters and a breaking load of approximately 68 tons, had been in use for 337 days at the time of the accident, according to a report by the GPIAAF. It consists of six strands, each containing 36 steel wires and a fiber core.

The accident resulted in a devastating toll, with 11 foreigners, the brakeman, and five Portuguese nationals (including the driver) losing their lives. A total of 21 people were injured, some seriously.

The cable car was on its journey at 6:03 PM when the cable detached, causing the train to derail after 170 meters. It collided with a street lamp post, a cast iron pole, tipped over, and crashed into a building.

The brakeman, who operates the cable car much like a vehicle driver, applied both the pressure air brake and the hand brake in an attempt to stop the vehicle, but these measures proved ineffective. The pressure air brake system, which is designed to automatically activate in an emergency, either failed or was insufficient.

The cable connecting both cars at the lower and upper ends of the steep Calçada da Glória street had given way at the attachment point on the upper part of the accident vehicle.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the cable detachment. The cable car's cable was scheduled to be replaced in about nine months, but the last time the cable was replaced is not specified in the provided search results.

The Elevador da Glória is one of Lisbon's most famous tourist attractions, annually transporting around three million passengers. This is the first such accident involving one of Lisbon's three funiculars.

The authorities have expressed their deepest condolences to the families of the victims and have assured the public that they are doing everything in their power to ensure the safety of all transportation systems in Lisbon.

The city and its people mourn this tragic loss and stand together in support during these difficult times. The Elevador da Glória remains closed until further notice.