At Least 15 Killed, Around 18 Injured as Lisbon’s Gloria Funicular Derails

LISBON, Sept. 3, 2025 - In a tragic accident on Wednesday, Lisbon’s iconic Gloria funicular derailed and crashed, killing at least 15 people and injuring approximately 18 others, emergency services said.

The accident occurred mid-afternoon on the steep incline linking Restauradores Square in downtown Lisbon with the Bairro Alto district, a route popular with tourists and locals alike. Video from the scene showed one carriage off its tracks and severely damaged, while the companion car-still attached to the haulage cable-rocked violently before passengers evacuated through its windows in panic.

Carlos Moedas, the mayor of Lisbon, expressed his sorrow and said officials were focusing on assisting victims and gathering evidence to determine the crash’s cause. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa extended his condolences and urged a swift investigation into the derailment.

Opened in 1885 and operated by the municipal transport authority Carris, the Gloria funicular is one of three in Lisbon, carrying passengers up the city’s famous hills since the late 19th century. Authorities have not yet released the identities or nationalities of the victims, but confirmed that international visitors were among those on board. Rescue teams cut through twisted metal to reach survivors, and hospitals across the city were placed on high alert to treat the wounded, some of whom remain in critical condition.

Carris has suspended all funicular operations pending a full safety review of its heritage lines. Transport officials said service on Lisbon’s other funicular routes will continue only after thorough inspections, and maintenance crews have already begun assessing track and cable integrity along the Gloria line.