How the Lisbon Funicular Works and Where It Crashed

By Samuel Granados

Sept. 4, 2025

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São Pedro de Alcântara St.

Upper stop

BAIRRO ALTO

Gloria St.

Where carriage

crashed

Lower stop

Restauradores Sq.

São Pedro de Alcântara St.

Upper stop

BAIRRO ALTO

Gloria St.

Where carriage crashed

Lower stop

Restauradores Sq.

Source: Google Earth (background image)

The New York Times

The vintage Lisbon funicular that crashed on Wednesday, killing at least 16 people, lost control when one of its two yellow-and-white carriages hurtled into a building.

The funicular, one of Lisbon’s most popular tourist attractions, transports passengers to and from thescenic Bairro Alto neighborhood.

The funicular has two interconnected carriages powered by overhead electric cables. The carriages run in opposite directions and are attached by an underground cable system that runs through a pulley at the top of the hill.

How the Lisbon funicular works

Overhead electric cables

Passing

point

Underground

counterweight

cable system

How the Lisbon funicular works

Overhead electric cables

Passing

point

Underground

counterweight

cable system

The New York Times

The weight of the carriage that travels downhill helps lift the other, and they pass each other midway along the route. Each of the two vehicles on the line can carry about 40 people.

At the site of the crash, the roof of the carriage lay sideways on Thursday beside a jumble of metal pieces and broken wooden seats.

Damaged

tracks and

pavement

Crashed

carriage

Other carriage

at bottom

of track

Damaged

tracks and

pavement

Crashed

carriage

Other carriage

at bottom

of track

Photo by Pedro Nunes/Reuters

The New York Times

The crash happened near Restauradores Square in the center of Lisbon, Portugal’s hilly capital. The street was cordoned off, but people who gathered at the site left bunches of flowers.

The New York Times

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