Historic cable tram in Lisbon to be replaced following fatal accident

LISBON – Lisbon’s iconic Elevador da Glória is set to be completely rebuilt. One year after the serious accident that claimed the lives of 16 people, the Portuguese public transportation company Carris has announced that it will not be reconstructing the historic cable car, but will instead replace it with a modern one.

On September 3, 2025 , a horrific accident occurred involving the historic cable car in Lisbon. One of the two yellow cars of the Elevador da Glória veered off the track at high speed, derailed, and crashed into a building.

The accident claimed the lives of 16 people were killed and about twenty others were injured.

According to the initial findings of the investigation, the tram was traveling at a speed of approximately 60 kilometers per hour. The entire incident is believed to have lasted less than 50 seconds.

Historic Cable Car

The Elevador da Glória is one of Lisbon’s most famous tourist attractions. The funicular dates back to its current form in 1914 and consists of two cars that balance each other via a cable.

The line is only 276 meters long, but it spans a height difference of approximately 45 meters. The average gradient is about 18 percent.

The two yellow trams are therefore not only a form of public transportation, but also an important part of Lisbon's historic streetscape.

No reconstruction

However, the historic installation will not be fully reconstructed.

Carris, Lisbon's public transportation company, wants to build a completely new cable car . The historic location and character of the route must be preserved, while the technical infrastructure is completely modernized.

"We're thinking of a new facility, not a reconstruction," stated the chairman of Carris' board of directors. According to him, the future cable car should be new, while the historic site will be preserved.

The decision comes one year after the fatal accident and is intended to ensure that the route can be used safely again in the future.

International Request for Proposals

For now, the plans are still in the preliminary phase.

In the first quarter of 2027 , Carris plans to issue an international call for bids for the design and construction of the new cable car.

If everything goes according to plan, the new facility should be operational in 2029 could once again begin transporting passengers.

This marks the end of an important chapter in the history of the Elevador da Glória. According to the plans, the historic character of the structure will be preserved, but the technology behind the cable car will be completely modernized.

Historic character will be preserved

Lisbon faces a major challenge: the city wants to preserve the cable car’s historical identity without simply rebuilding the old system.

The new cable car must therefore combine historical charm and modern technology.

This project is particularly interesting for train and tram enthusiasts. After all, the Elevador da Glória is a unique piece of public transportation in which a more than 100-year-old line is being replaced by a modern system, while the route and the historic surroundings are preserved.

Over the coming months and years, it should become clear exactly what the new vehicles and the technical equipment will look like.

Sources: CARRIS, RTP, Diário de Notícias, Belga/HLN.

Editorial Staff: TrainNews — independently compiled and rewritten based on the sources listed above.