A preliminary investigation into the catastrophic Lisbon funicular crash, which claimed 16 lives, including three British nationals, has unveiled a series of alarming systemic failures. The incident, which occurred on September 3, involved the 140-year-old Glória funicular, a popular tourist attraction, derailing and colliding with a building. According to Portugal’s Air and Rail Accident Investigations Bureau, the crash was triggered by the failure of a defective underground cable that served as a counterweight between two carriages. Shockingly, the cable was neither technically suitable nor certified for passenger transportation. It was acquired in 2022 by Carris, the company responsible for Lisbon’s public transport. The report highlighted a lack of oversight by Carris engineers, who failed to test the cable before installation. Additionally, the maintenance and supervision of the funicular, outsourced by Carris, were inadequate, with the Glória funicular reportedly receiving clearance on the morning of the disaster, though it remains unclear if the inspection actually took place. The state body overseeing Lisbon’s funiculars also neglected its duty to include the Glória funicular in its jurisdiction. The emergency brake system, which the driver attempted to activate when the cable snapped, malfunctioned and had never been tested. Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas, re-elected on October 12 despite criticism over his oversight of the city’s funiculars, emphasized that the tragedy was due to technical rather than political causes. Carris issued a statement asserting that it was premature to determine the relevance of the non-compliant cable to the accident, noting that similar cables had been used without incident for 601 days prior. The company also clarified that while the cables were introduced under the current board, the acquisition process occurred under the previous administration. The full investigation is expected to take 11 months, and all Lisbon cable cars have been suspended until comprehensive safety checks are implemented.