Lisbon, Aug. 28, 2026 (Lusa) - The Portuguese Road and Urban Transport Workers' Union (Strup) stated on Friday that it is still awaiting responses from city council and transport operator, Carris regarding the Lisbon funicular lift accident and reiterated its criticism of the outsourcing of maintenance.
«One year on from the tragic accident at the Glória funicular, which claimed the lives of several dozen people, including our colleague André Marques, Strup/Fectrans is still awaiting answers to the questions we put to the mayor of Lisbon and the Carris management on 17 September 2025», the union stated in a press release sent to Carris workers, to which Lusa had access.
The funicular derailment took place on 3 September 2025, resulting in 16 fatalities and 24 injuries among people of 15 different nationalities. Among the fatalities was Carris brake operator André Marques, who was 40 years old and the father of two young children.
«Whilst it is true that the key questions can only be answered by the final report from the official authorities – which has once again been postponed, now until next year, Strup/Fectrans cannot fail to continue to highlight the chosen method of outsourcing lift maintenance to private contractors as one of the causes of this tragedy, which must be borne in mind so that the same mistakes are not repeated», it emphasised.
Among the various questions put to the city mayor, Carlos Moedas (PSD), and the management of the municipal transport operator, the workers' representatives sought to know whether an assessment of the safety system for the funicular had ever been carried out, whether the maintenance schedule had been adjusted to take account of the increase in passenger numbers, or whether the decision to outsource maintenance to private contractors had had any effect on a possible reduction in the quality of the work.
Next week, on the day that marks one year since the tragic accident, the trade union will organise a tribute to all the victims, and in particular to André Marques, by laying a wreath at the foot of the Calçada da Glória, from 10.30 am.
Following the accident, the PSD/CDS-PP/IL-led municipal council approved measures to support the victims and to design a new technological system for the funicular, as well as the creation of a memorial on the Calçada da Glória.
Over the past few months, opposition to the PSD/CDS-PP/IL council has criticised the lack of information and responses regarding the accident, with the PS councillors accusing Carlos Moedas of adopting «a sort of delaying tactic to avoid talking about this, to see if people forget».
Lusa asked the city council when the memorial honouring the victims of the accident would be unveiled, and what form it would take, but has not received a response as yet.
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