Lisbon, Sept. 11, 2025 (Lusa) - Lisbon City Council announced on Thursday that it has set up a mission team to study a new technological system for the future Glória funicular, working with the municipal company Carris, which will meet next week.
This mission team includes representatives from the National Civil Engineering Laboratory (LNEC), the Association of Engineers and the Instituto Superior Técnico, and its creation is the result of one of the measures approved on Monday by Lisbon City Council as a result of the Glória funicular accident.
The Glória funicular, managed by Carris, derailed on 3 September in an accident that left 16 dead and two dozen injured, including Portuguese and foreigners of various nationalities.
According to the Lisbon City Council, chaired by Carlos Moedas (PSD), the creation of this mission team is intended to start the process of "designing a new technological system for the future Glória funicular".
"It is a priority for Lisbon City Council and Carris to study new solutions and restore normality as soon as possible, while ensuring the preservation of the historical and cultural heritage that the Glória funicular represents for Lisbon and the country," the municipality said in a statement.
The same statement stated that a meeting is planned for "next week" between all members of this mission team and the mayor of Lisbon.
Representatives from LNEC are part of this mission group, namely civil engineer Luís Oliveira, director of the Structures Department, and mechanical engineer João Viegas, director of the Scientific Instrumentation and Information Technology Centre, the municipality said.
The team also includes representatives from the Portuguese Association of Engineers, namely the president of the Engineering and Quality College, Ricardo da Cunha Reis, and the coordinator of the Occupational Safety group, Manuel Tender, as well as the Instituto Superior Técnico, with Professor Jorge Ambrósio, a specialist in structural and computational mechanics.
Quoted in a statement, the mayor of Lisbon said that, in addition to all the answers that are required in relation to the tragedy with the Calçada da Glória funicular, and which are intended to "be ascertained in the shortest possible time", it is necessary to "look ahead and take the lead now with new solutions for the future Glória funicular".
"It is precisely this confidence-building work that is beginning to be prepared and which brings together some of the most prestigious institutions in our country. I'm grateful for the availability and commitment of all these leading professionals who have been ready from the outset to do whatever was necessary in relation to this accident," said Carlos Moedas.
In the wake of the Glória funicular accident, on Monday the Lisbon City Council approved proposals from the PSD/CDS-PP leadership, the PS and the PCP for measures to support and honour the victims, including the creation of a municipal support fund and a collective memorial, but also to clarify and determine responsibility.
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