Portuguese prosecutors expect Glória funicular crash inquiry to conclude by March 2027

Inquiry extended into 2027

One year after the Elevador da Glória derailment in Lisbon, the Portuguese Public Prosecutor's Office announced that its criminal investigation will not finish before the end of the first quarter of 2027. The Lisbon Regional Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DIAP) stated on 2 September 2026 that ongoing technical examinations and forensic tests are scheduled to conclude in November. Following the completion of testing, prosecutors will examine the evidence to evaluate criminal liability. The derailment occurred at 18:00 on 3 September 2025 as the funicular was descending Calçada da Glória, resulting in 16 fatalities and between 22 and 24 injuries. Prosecutors noted that the inquiry continued through the judicial holiday period to avoid unnecessary delays.

A thorough analysis of the facts will follow, with a rigorous assessment of the sufficiency of evidence and the determination of possible criminal liability, which is why it is estimated that the final dispatch of the inquiry, barring any unforeseen events, may occur by the end of the first quarter of 2027.

Scope of technical testing

The forensic investigation focuses on the mechanical and electrical integrity of the funicular operated by municipal transit company Carris. Experts are inspecting the condition of the traction cable and its attachment to the carriage, alongside the mechanical braking systems and their grip on rails and wheels. Investigators are also analyzing the electrical circuitry of the vehicles and its integration with braking and traction mechanisms. Because several forensic tests involve destructive and unrepeatable procedures, prosecutors required the custom manufacturing and acquisition of specialized structures and parts to gather reliable data. Additional questions emerging during testing required supplementary trials, which extended the technical phase until November. The inquiry also examines organizational practices, maintenance routines, and safety certification standards at Carris.

Parallel safety investigation

The criminal inquiry proceeds alongside an independent technical probe conducted by the rail and air accident investigation bureau (GPIAAF). While both procedures remain legally separate, investigators agreed on common methodologies and testing protocols to prevent duplicate destruction of mechanical components. The GPIAAF had originally aimed to deliver its final accident report on 3 September 2026, marking the one-year anniversary of the disaster. Technical complexities forced the safety board to postpone the publication of its final findings to the first quarter of 2027. A preliminary report issued in October 2025 identified maintenance omissions and procedural flaws in the upkeep of the funicular.

Victim claims and political criticism

The disaster claimed the lives of 16 people, predominantly foreign tourists alongside five Portuguese nationals. Among the Portuguese victims were brakeman André Marques, who operated one of the cabins, and four employees of the charitable institution Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa. Nine of the surviving injured passengers sustained severe trauma, and Carris insurer Fidelidade noted on 27 August 2026 that all injured survivors remain in ongoing clinical recovery without definitive medical stabilization. Opposition parties in Lisbon criticized the Lisbon City Council on 2 September 2026, alleging deficiencies in providing victim assistance, processing compensation settlements, and establishing institutional responsibility.