It is noteworthy that the line was opened in 1885 as the city’s second of its kind. Although it was electrified only in 1915, it still retains its original features.

At least 15 people were killed and others injured in Portugal after the famous Lisbon inclined mountain train, “Glória,” derailed on Wednesday evening.

The tragedy occurred after one of the cables along the railway track came loose, causing the train to lose control and rush at high speed down a steep hill before crashing into a building.

Footage from the site showed the train, which transports people up and down the hill in the Portuguese capital, almost completely destroyed while emergency workers pulled people from under the rubble.

Eyewitness Teresa Davo told Portuguese TV channel “SIC”: “It crashed into a building with brutal force and disintegrated like a cardboard box. It hit with tremendous force. It had no brakes at all.”

Fernando Nunes da Silva, former Lisbon city council member and engineering specialist, told “SIC Notícias” that “it is very likely that the traction cable broke, and when this cable broke, the brakes stopped working.” He added: “The descending elevator gained momentum and continued at high speed.”

Reportedly, some of the victims suffered open fractures. The nationalities of the victims have not yet been disclosed.

Police, paramedics, and firefighters rushed to the scene, and the cause of the collapse was not immediately clear.

This railway line is one of three of its kind in Lisbon and is heavily used by tourists to navigate the city’s many steep hills.

The line, opened in 1885, connects central Lisbon near Restauradores Square to the Bairro Alto district, known for its vibrant nightlife. It is operated by the municipal public transport company “Carris.”

The two train cars are connected by opposite ends of a traction cable powered by electric motors on the cars. According to CNN Portugal, the car at the bottom of the line apparently was not damaged, but passengers had to jump out of its windows when the accident occurred.

It is noteworthy that the line was opened in 1885 as the city’s second of its kind. Although it was electrified only in 1915, it still retains its original features.

Source: “Daily Mail”