A criminal investigation into the fatal Lisbon Glória funicular crash on September 3, 2025, will not be completed until early 2027, public prosecutors announced on Wednesday.
One year after the derailment killed 16 people and injured 24 others, the vast majority of victims and their families have still received no compensation payments for the destruction and loss caused by the disaster.
Portugal's Attorney General's Office, known as the Procuradoria-Geral da República, said the investigation conducted by the Lisbon Investigation and Criminal Action Department is awaiting technical tests and forensic expert evaluations expected to finish in November.
Following the completion of these technical assessments, prosecutors will evaluate whether sufficient evidence exists to press criminal charges. The final inquiry ruling is expected by the end of the first quarter of 2027, barring any unexpected delays.
The prosecutor's office acknowledged that the ongoing forensic inspections are of high technical complexity. Investigators are focusing on the operation of the vehicles' electrical system, its integration with braking mechanisms, and the state of the primary traction cable.
The inquiry is also auditing the corporate structure, maintenance protocols, and safety certification procedures at municipal transport operator Carris. The Attorney General's Office noted that work continued through the judicial summer holidays, which ended on August 31, and that expert findings have raised new technical questions requiring further investigation.
Victims voice anger as city council faces criticism
Victims of the crash and their surviving relatives published an open letter lamenting a lack of official support, revealing that many families were contacted only once by Lisbon City Council since the tragedy occurred. The letter, disclosed by national public broadcaster RTP, demands transparent communication and clear accountability from municipal authorities.
Opposition members within the municipal executive issued sharp criticisms of Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas. Political opponents accused the mayor of remaining on the sidelines regarding official explanations and executive responsibility for the fatal transit failure.
Legal authorities have named three formal suspects, known in Portuguese law as arguidos, in connection with the fatal accident. According to national newspaper Público, the defendants include Filipe Fraga, former director of electric transport maintenance at Carris; Gustavo Pita Soares, managing partner of elevator maintenance contractor MNTC; and the MNTC company itself. Public prosecutors have indicated that additional suspects could be named as the investigation unfolds.
A public memorial to honor the victims of the derailment will be formally inaugurated in Lisbon on Thursday to mark the one-year anniversary of the disaster. However, financial compensation remains unpaid for 36 victims as legal and administrative procedures drag on.
Cable snap triggered fatal downhill runaway
The disaster occurred at 6:00 p.m. on September 3, 2025, as funicular Car 1 began its scheduled descent along Calçada da Glória, connecting the Bairro Alto district to Praça dos Restauradores in central Lisbon. Shortly after setting off, the primary support cable connecting the system's two counterbalanced carriages snapped.
Car 1 derailed and careened out of control down the steep slope before crashing violently into the facade of a building. The impact completely destroyed the wooden carriage, killing 16 passengers and injuring 24 others.
The victims included local residents and international tourists. Funicular brake operator André Marques died in the crash, alongside four other Portuguese nationals who worked for the social welfare charity Santa Casa da Misericórdia: Alda Matias, Pedro Trindade, Ana Paula Lopes, and Sandra Coelho.
Ascending Car 2 had traveled only a few meters when the cable snapped. It slipped backward but remained on the rails, avoiding impact while causing panic among passengers. A witness told local newspaper Correio da Manhã that onlookers ran in fear that the runaway descending car would collide with the lower carriage, while another described a deafening bang, rising dust, and screaming victims trapped in the wreckage.
New funicular planned for 2029 rollout
Carris president Rui Lopo presented plans this week for a completely redesigned Glória funicular expected to begin operating in 2029. Lopo explained that while the new carriage will maintain a visual appearance similar to the historic design, it will replace traditional wood with modern materials engineered to withstand impacts and extreme conditions.
The public tender for the construction and execution of the new funicular project is scheduled to open by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
The Glória Funicular, operated by Lisbon municipal transport company Carris, is a historic steep-incline railway that opened in 1885 and is classified as a Portuguese national monument. Carris operates the capital's surface transit network, including buses, historic trams, and funiculars serving millions of residents and visitors annually.
