Lisbon Cable Car Disaster: An Important Decision Has Been Made

The Gloria funicular disaster, which occurred in Lisbon on September 3rd, shocked all of Portugal. The cable break on the popular attraction between the Blaixa and Bairro Alto districts resulted in the deaths of 16 people, including tourists. Mayor Carlos Moedas announced a significant decision the city has made in response to the tragedy. For now, the funicular will be replaced by electric buses.

New findings after the Lisbon cable car disaster

Calçada da Glória Street has reopened to residents and tourists since Monday, September 8th. However, the famous yellow trolleys are still nowhere to be seen, and it appears this mode of transport won't be returning anytime soon. After the September 3rd disaster, which resulted from a broken cable and faulty brakes, the city decided to take a different route. The cable car service on this route has been suspended until further notice, and passengers will be able to use the 51E electric bus instead. "The inauguration of the route through Lisbon's Old Town will take place on Friday," writes the Polish Press Agency.

What's next for the future of the queue?

This doesn't mean, however, that buses will remain with tourists forever. Traditional transportation will return, but in a new, safer form. Mayor Carlos Moedas's announcements mention a different propulsion technology.

In the future, for example, electromagnetic brakes could be installed in cable cars. "The automatic brakes on the Glória elevator proved ineffective in stopping a speeding car," reports Observador. Proposals to improve the flawed system also include installing a second cable, which would provide additional support in the event of a failure of the first cable.

However, any solutions will have to be implemented while preserving the tram's heritage value. "Nobody comes to Lisbon to ride modern trams," writes Portuguese media.

Read also: New information about the Lisbon disaster. A cable car worker is among the victims. Read also: An oasis forgotten by guidebooks. This region can no longer remain in the shadows.