Tourist Tragedy Strikes Lisbon as Iconic Transport Derails
At least 15 people were killed and 18 injured on September 3 when Lisbon's historic Gloria Funicular derailed and overturned, according to local reports. The bright yellow carriages, a staple of the city's tourism landscape since 1885, veered off track while navigating steep slopes between Restauradores Square and the Principe Real district.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the derailment, which marks the second major incident involving the funicular since 2018. While no injuries were reported in the previous accident, this latest tragedy has reignited debates about aging infrastructure maintenance in popular tourist destinations.
Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas described the incident as 'a dark day for our city,' pledging immediate safety reviews of all historic transport systems. Tourism operators are bracing for potential impacts on visitor numbers as Portugal enters its peak travel season.
