At around 18:05(WEST) on 3September 2025, a funicular car of the Ascensor da Glória connecting Bairro Alto and Restauradores Square in Lisbon, Portugal, derailed and crashed at the start of the evening rush hour, resulting in 16deaths[1][2] and 23injuries. Reports say the car was at the top of the hill when it derailed, and sped uncontrollably downhill before hitting a building near the bottom.
An operator's view from the cabin of car No.1 in July2023, showing the location of its fatal derailment.
The Ascensor da Glória is one of three street-running funicular routes operating in Lisbon. With a capacity of 43passengers on each car, it serves the route between Bairro Alto and Restauradores Square.[3][4] The two cars which are attached by a haulage cable rely on electric motors to provide propulsion.[5] The route spans about 265 metres (870ft) and operates on a ramp. It was designated as a national monument in 2002 and is a popular mode of transport for tourists and locals.[6]
Car no. 2 at Bairro Alto station in 2016, the starting point of the accident. The route down Calçada da Glória is visible in the background.
The maintenance of Lisbon's funiculars has been outsourced since 2011. The last public tender for maintenance was opened in 2022, to which four companies applied, after which Carris signed a contract with MAIN– Maintenance Engineering,[7] worth one million euros, covering the Bica, Lavra and Santa Justa lifts. According to the Carris workers' union, the company's employees have repeatedly reported poor maintenance work by MAIN.[8]
The Ascensor da Glória was last placed under general maintenance, which is held every four years, in 2022. Its most recent immediate maintenance, held every two years, was conducted between 26August and 30September 2024, which was the last maintenance before the accident.[9][10] A few hours after the 2025disaster, CEO of Carris Pedro de Brito Bogas[pt] (in office since May2022[11][12]) stated to the press that the "the maintenance protocol was scrupulously followed" by MAIN and that it included weekly, monthly, and daily inspections.[7][13]
An earlier incident occured in May2018, where one of the cars derailed due to a lack of maintenance of its wheels. No one was injured.[14]
Derailment
The lower station of the tramway pictured in July2012
The funicular derailment occurred at around 18:05 (WEST), at the start of the evening rush hour.[4] According to the Portuguese-language Luxembourgish newspaper Contacto, the upper car, Car 1[15] crashed into a building and was destroyed.[16] Witnesses said the other carriage ascending from the bottom of the slope initially jolted and struck the pavement. As witnesses attempted to release passengers from the stationary carriage, Car2,[15] the other carriage from the top of the slope came down uncontrollably before hitting a building[17] at a bend[18] along Calçada da Glória close to Avenida da Liberdade, near the bottom of the line.[19][20]
One person on the sidewalk was reported to have been hit by the carriage as it toppled.[21] The second carriage at the foot of the hill did not sustain damage but its occupants leapt from the windows when the crash occurred.[5]
Footage on social media showed the mangled vehicle lying on its side after the crash, as well as a multitude of scattered human remains strewn about.[4] According to Rádio e Televisão de Portugal, citing local authorities, the railway was carrying more than 40people at the time of the crash.[22] Portuguese newspaper Observador and the Lisbon fire department said a loose cable caused the vehicle to become uncontrollable and crash into the building.[23][24]
Following the crash, 62rescue personnel and 22emergency vehicles attended the scene.[25] Video footage of the aftermath of the crash showing bystanders running to the crash to assist victims was posted shortly after the incident; later, these passersby were helpful in dispersing pigeons which were starting to feed on the smaller human remains not yet collected by authorities.[26]
By the following Thursday evening five Portuguese (including brakeman André Marques),[30][31] a German man,[32] two South Koreans and a Swiss national were identified.[33]
The injured who have been identified include four Portuguese, two Germans, two Spaniards, and one person each from Australia, Canada, Cape Verde, France, Italy, Morocco, South Korea, Switzerland and Brazil.[21][25][34] A three-year old child was among the injured.[35]
Investigation
Portugal's Office for the Prevention and Investigation of Accidents in Civil Aviation and Rail (GPIAAF) said it would launch an investigation into the crash.[27] Carris said that apart from the maintenance work in 2024, regular monthly and weekly checks had been done and that it would open its own investigation. It also said it was "very sorry about what happened".[19]
Response
All funicular services in the city were suspended by the Lisbon Municipal Chamber which also directed that they be inspected immediately.[18] The Polícia Judiciária announced the creation of a telephone line and an email to be used by families and close friends of the victims as well as official entities for information about the incident.[36]
The Portuguese government said the country would observe a national day of mourning on 4 September while the Lisbon government would observe three days of mourning.[22] The European Parliament flew flags at half mast.[37] The European Commission, the Portuguese President, Spain, and a local residents' group made statements in response to the accident.[37]
1 2 "Maintenance of derailed tram is ensured "scrupulously"". Portugal Pulse. 3 September 2025. Retrieved 4 September 2025. president of Carris stated that the maintenance… has been undertaken by an external company, Main Energy, for 14 years, and an investigation is underway to determine if a maintenance issue was involved. "The maintenance protocol was scrupulously followed," stated Brito Bogas, emphasizing that the last major maintenance of the Elevador da Glória occurred in 2022, with general maintenance scheduled every four years. The plan also includes weekly, monthly, and daily inspections, all of which were performed.
↑ Relatório de Governo Societário 2022[Corporate Governance Report 2022](PDF) (Report) (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: Carris. 13 March 2023. p.19. Archived(PDF) from the original on 22 July 2025. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
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