Lisbon/IBNS: At least 17 people have been killed and over 20 others injured as a funicular derailed in central Lisbon on Wednesday evening, media reports said.

The rescuers pulled victims from the debris as Elevador da Glória, a tram-like vehicle, crashed near the busy Praça dos Restauradores at around 6 pm.

One of the two carriages of Lisbon’s Glória Funicular derailed and crashed into a building on a steep, narrow street during evening rush hour.

The funicular, which operates via a counterbalanced cable system and serves both residents and tourists, is a historic landmark in the city.

Opened in 1885, it carries around 3 million passengers annually.

The victims include foreign nationals from Germany, Spain, Canada, France, Morocco, South Korea, Italy, Switzerland and others.

Though the reason for the accident is not entirely known, preliminary findings suggest the failure of the haulage cable—possibly a loosening or break—led to the carriage losing control and derailing.

The Portuguese government declared a national day of mourning, and Lisbon’s city government declared three days of municipal mourning, with flags flying at half-mast.

All remaining funicular lines—including Bica and Lavra—have been suspended pending safety inspections. 

Forensic and investigative teams are working to determine the cause.

About Lisbon funiculars

The Lisbon funiculars are historic cable railway systems (also called elevadores) that help people move up and down Lisbon’s steep hills.

They work by using counterbalanced cars connected by a cable—when one car goes up, the other goes down, making it easier to transport passengers along the city’s sloped streets.

What are the three main Lisbon funiculars?

1. Elevador da Glória (Glória Funicular)

Opened: 1885

Connects: Restauradores Square (downtown) ↔ Bairro Alto (bohemian neighborhood).

The one that unfortunately derailed in September 2025.

2. Elevador da Bica (Bica Funicular)

Opened: 1892

Connects: Rua de São Paulo ↔ Calçada do Combro / Largo do Calhariz.

Very scenic, runs through a narrow street often photographed by tourists.

3. Elevador do Lavra (Lavra Funicular)

Opened: 1884 (oldest in Lisbon).

Connects: Largo da Anunciada ↔ Rua Câmara Pestana.

Cultural Importance

All three funiculars are national monuments of Portugal.

They are not just tourist attractions but also part of Lisbon’s daily transport system, especially for locals navigating the city’s hilly terrain.

They carry millions of passengers each year.