Preliminary report points to false maintenance and inspection tasks at the Glória elevator

Lifts must remain stopped until reassessment by a specialized entity

GPIAAF recommends Carris “not to reactivate the lifts without a reassessment, by an entity specialized in funiculars, of the cable fixings and brakes, in line with European regulations in this matter, respecting the historical protection of those transports, but without compromising safety”.

This body recommends that the company responsible for Lisbon’s elevators also carry out “a reassessment and review of its internal control system, particularly with regard to the processes of specification, acquisition, reception and application of critical components for vehicle safety”.

The investigation also recommends that Carris carry out “an assessment of the advantages of defining and implementing a safety management system, in line with best European practices, but adapted to the reality of your organization”.

“That allows an explicit and documented identification and analysis of the security risks of the operation and the measures implemented to guarantee their control at a level considered adequate, proceeding in accordance with the result of that assessment”points out the GPIAAF.

The cable that joined the two cabins of the Glória elevator and that gave way at its attachment point to the carriage that derailed did not comply with Carris specifications nor was it certified for use in transporting people.

The investigation detected flaws in the cable acquisition process by Carris and in the company’s internal control mechanisms.

The GPIAAF also recommends that Carris “clarify contractual obligations with the maintenance service provider and exercise effective supervision and control over these obligations, in terms of maintenance management, execution and quality control in accordance with applicable regulations”.

As for the IMT, the preliminary report states that it is a national public entity with the responsibilities of promoting the definition and updating of the normative and regulatory framework for the land transport sector, as well as approving, approving and certifying vehicles and equipment used in land transport systems, guaranteeing the required technical and safety standards.

The GPIAAF recommends that the IMT, in line with what is expressed in the European Union regulations, proceed “to promote an appropriate legislative, regulatory or other framework, which guarantees that all funiculars and other similar or assimilable public transport systems are properly framed from a technical and supervisory point of view”.

The investigation also recommends that the IMT proceed with “promoting a legislative framework that guarantees that electric cars on rails, whether historic, modernized or modern, that circulate on public streets, whether when they enter into service or during their lifetime, are subject to compliance with appropriate safety rules and conditions”.

“Following the best practices of other Member States in this area, and at an appropriate level of independent supervision”indicates preliminary report.

According to the GPIAAF, safety recommendations are proposals for improvement, being drawn up based on the conclusions, albeit preliminary if appropriate, of an investigation into one or more accidents or incidents.

The accident with the Glória elevator, which occurred on September 3, caused 16 deaths and around two dozen injuries, including Portuguese and foreigners of various nationalities.

Moedas reaffirms that the tragedy was due to technical and not political causes

The Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, has already reaffirmed that the Glória elevator accident was due to technical and not political causes.

The mayor’s reaction follows the preliminary report from the Office for the Prevention and Investigation of Aircraft Accidents and Railway Accidents (GPIAAF), which highlights, in particular, failures at Carris, maintenance and supervision.

“Contrary to the politicization that some made during the campaign, this report reaffirms that the unfortunate tragedy of the Glória elevator was derived from technical and not political causes”says Carlos Moedas, in a short written statement sent to the Lusa agency.

Carris sends purchase of cables with alleged irregularities to previous administration

Carris has already said that it is unaware of any non-compliance on the part of the company that maintained the Elevador da Glória following the failures and omissions in the work carried out by the service provider, which are indicated by the preliminary report

In a statement, Carris highlighted that the report considers that “[…] It is not possible at this time to say whether the non-conformities in the use of the cable are relevant to the accident or not” and clarified that the cable acquisition process, “with alleged non-conformities, which conditioned the entire cable replacement process, occurred in a mandate prior to that of the current board of directors”.

“On this matter, the board of directors of Carris is unaware of the facts set out” in the Summary of Relevant Findings to Date regarding the traction/balancing cable (in points 2 to 5), the carrier highlighted, indicating that, “since the report refers to non-compliance with regulations in force at Carris, the respective responsibilities will be determined”.