Lisbon, Dec. 3, 2025 (Lusa) - Three months after the accident involving the Glória funicular in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, technical inspections of all lifts and funicular railways in the capital are still ongoing, as is the process of supporting the victims and their families.
Following the accident involving the Glória funicular, which derailed on the 3rd of September, causing 16 deaths and more than 20 injuries among Portuguese and foreigners of various nationalities, Lisbon city council "immediately" suspended the operation of the Bica and Lavra lifts and the Graça funicular railway so that the equipment could be inspected.
Under the mayor, Carlos Moedas (PSD), the Lisbon city council also decided to appoint an independent technical commission "which is currently assessing the operating conditions of all lifts and funiculars in the city".
In response to the Lusa news agency, regarding the fact that three months have passed since the tragedy with the Glória funicular, the local authority said that "technical inspections and the study of safe operating conditions are ongoing, so that after the technical reports are completed, the timetable for their entry into operation will be defined".
As for the internal investigation and the external audit into the circumstances of the accident, which the Lisbon city council demanded from the municipal public transport operator, Carris, responsible for managing the Glória funicular, the local authority said that "both are ongoing" and revealed that the audit had been awarded to "a company with experience in the sector, Centro CATIM Projetos".
The Lisbon city council did not respond to some of the questions, including those about the creation of a municipal fund to support the victims and the assessment of the outsourcing of lift maintenance services.
Lusa also questioned Fidelidade, Carris' insurer, which stated that "it has been committed from the outset to supporting the victims and their families, ensuring that the entire process is carried out in a fair and humane manner".
"Fidelidade's insurance cover with Carris is €50 million and, regardless of how long the process may take, Fidelidade will continue to support the victims and their families for as long as necessary," revealed an official source from the insurance company, indicating that "it is still premature to identify an overall figure" for the allocation of support, including compensation.
Fidelidade supported the transport of family members, transfers and the organisation of funeral services, accommodation and travel for the victims' families, and also offered to cover the costs of procedures that were handled directly by the families, as well as other types of expenses.
"In cases where the victims had other insurance policies, Fidelidade has covered expenses that are not covered by those policies," it said.
Regarding the 16 Portuguese and foreign victims who died, the insurance company assured that it is in contact with all family members or their legal representatives and has requested the necessary documents to calculate compensation.
With regard to the identified injured, "Fidelidade is in contact with 19 people," either directly or through family members and legal representatives, covering various types of expenses.
The delay in completing the compensation process for the victims is also related to the fact that it is still "necessary for the clinical situation of the injured to stabilise", with Fidelidade guaranteeing payment for the necessary treatment so that the amount of compensation to be awarded can then be calculated.
The insurer also explained that the compensation figure for fatalities is calculated individually, taking into account factors such as the victim's age, income and family situation.
As for the new management of Carris, since the current board of directors, chaired by Pedro de Brito Bogas, resigned on the 22nd October, the city council said that "this is a matter that is being dealt with, and the new board of directors is expected to be presented shortly."
The resignation came after the conclusions of the preliminary report by the Office for the Prevention and Investigation of Aircraft and Railway Accidents (GPIAAF), which detected faults and omissions in the maintenance of the Glória funicular, including that the cable connecting the two lift cabins, which broke, did not comply with specifications and was not certified for passenger transport.
On Tuesday, during the presentation of Lisbon's draft municipal budget proposal for 2026, the deputy mayor, Gonçalo Reis (PSD), who is responsible for Carris, as well as for Finance and Mobility, stated that the new management of this municipal public transport company in the city will be formalised in the coming weeks.
"The current management will remain in office until the end of December, so we will find a transitional solution," he said.
SSM/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
