Heritage Funicular Tram in Portugal Derails, 15 Dead

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Wed Sep 03, 2025 10:29 pm

News reports:

https://apnews.com/article/streetcar-de ... bbccf44aab

https://apnews.com/article/lisbon-stree ... 845a342278

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/li ... -portugal/

This is a "heritage" operation, not sure just how "vintage" the equipment in question was.

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Thu Sep 04, 2025 1:25 am

It is very vintage, in the same sense the San Francisco Cable Cars are legacy equipment. The number of daily cycles and kilometers traveled is very small. It does not run at night.

The line was closed for a major overhaul in about 2018.

Unlike the SF Cable Cars, there is no emergency brake capable of holding a car on the hill if the cable breaks. I suspect the modern requirement is going to be fitting of electric track brakes (magnetic rail shoes). Such brakes would at least slow the vehicle, and prevent the derailment.

I guess it would also be possible to fit the cars with SF Cable slot brakes.