Lisbon's Glória Funicular to Reopen

The closure of the Glória Funicular followed a catastrophic derailment on September 3, 2025, when a car sped downhill and crashed into a building near Restauradores Square. The accident resulted in 16 fatalities and more than 20 injuries among its passengers, who included local residents and foreign tourists. Inaugurated on October 24, 1885, the funicular was designed by engineer Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard and has been a key feature of Lisbon's public transport, connecting the city's downtown to the Bairro Alto. Prior to the incident, the line, which was electrified in 1915 and declared a National Monument in 2002, served around 3 million passengers annually. An investigation by Portugal's Office for the Prevention and Investigation of Accidents in Civil Aviation and Rail (GPIAAF) uncovered serious safety lapses. A preliminary report concluded that the cable connecting the two cabins broke and was not certified for passenger transport, and that emergency brakes were not capable of stopping the car on their own. Following the accident, Lisbon's public transport operator, Carris, suspended services on all its funiculars, including the historic Lavra and Bica lines, pending comprehensive safety reviews. A specialist task force, including university experts and engineers, was created to oversee a complete safety redesign for the Glória line before it can resume operation. Meanwhile, the much newer Graça funicular has been deemed safe to reopen in April after a technical inspection. This funicular, which began construction in 2009 and finally opened in March 2024, connects the Mouraria and Graça neighborhoods with a one-and-a-half-minute journey. The management of the Graça funicular was transferred from EMEL, the city's mobility and parking company, to Carris in January 2025. The operations of the other two historic funiculars, Bica and Lavra, remain under study and evaluation for a future reopening.