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This fatal inclined railway incident in Lisbon that cost 16 victims in early September was caused by a faulty line, according to the official investigation released on Monday.

This probe has recommended that Lisbon's comparable transports remain non-operational until their safety can be completely verified.

Details of the Tragic Accident

The crash happened when the 19th-century Glória cable car left the rails and smashed into a edifice, horrifying the metropolis and raising significant concerns about the security of ageing landmarks.

Portugal's accident investigation agency (the bureau) noted that a wire connecting two cars had come loose shortly before the crash on September 3rd.

Preliminary Conclusions

The preliminary analysis stated that the line was not up to the required specifications established by the urban transport operator.

The cable was not in compliance with the standards in force to be used for the Glória cable car.

This 35-page document further advised that all inclined railways in the city ought to remain suspended until experts can confirm they have adequate braking systems able of halting the cabins in the event of a cable break.

Fatalities and Casualties

Of the 16 fatalities, eleven were foreign nationals, featuring 3 British nationals, two Korean nationals, 2 Canadian nationals, a citizen of France, one citizen of Switzerland, an US national, and one Ukrainian national.

The incident also hurt approximately 20 people, including three UK nationals.

Among the national fatalities featured four employees from the equivalent welfare organization, whose premises are positioned at the peak of the sheer alley serviced by the inclined railway.

Operational Details

The Glória funicular first opened in the late 19th century, employing a mechanism of balancing weights to move its 2 compartments along its 265-metre path climbing and descending a precipitous slope.

Based on investigators, a regular check on the date of the accident found no anomalies with the wire that subsequently snapped.

The experts also reported that the conductor had engaged the cable car's stopping mechanism, but they were unable to halt the car without the function of the weight compensation system.

This complete event occurred in only under a minute, per the investigation.

Future Measures

The investigative body is expected to release a conclusive document with security suggestions within the coming year, though an interim document may deliver additional details on the development of the probe.