The Glória tram, in Lisbon, derailed yesterday evening (Wednesday the 3rd), at 18:04, on Calçada da Glória. The Glória tram is managed by Carris, connecting Restauradores to the São Pedro de Alcântara Garden, in Bairro Alto. The 256 metre route is very popular with tourists and is the operator’s busiest route.
The President of Carris, Pedro de Brito Bogas, stated today that the maintenance of the tram that derailed in Lisbon, resulting in 17 deaths, was carried out scrupulously.
Speaking to journalists at the scene of the accident, in the centre of Lisbon, the President of Carris said that for 14 years the maintenance of the Elevador da Glória has been carried out by an external company, Main Energy, and that an investigation is underway to find out if it was a maintenance problem.
“The maintenance protocol was scrupulously respected,” said Brito Bogas, stressing that the last general maintenance of the Elevador da Glória was carried out in 2022. Full servicing takes place every four years, but the maintenance programme provides for weekly and monthly maintenance checks and daily inspections, which were carried out. There is also an interim, bi-annual maintenance inspection.
In a statement, the President of Carris said:
“We, at Carris, value safety and have strict protocols and work with excellent professionals. We have to understand what happened, and we will get to the bottom of this. Today, is a very sad day. “
INEM announced that the accident caused 15 deaths and 18 injuries, of which five were in serious condition and 13 suffered minor injuries. However, this figure has changed as one of the injured died during the night, and new reports state that 22 people were wounded in the accident.
The wounded were immediately transported to the hospitals of São José, Santa Maria, São Francisco Xavier, Cascais and Amadora-Sintra.
According to the São José Hospital, the Multipurpose General Emergency of this Local Health Unit (ULS) received nine injured people on Wednesday: five in serious condition and four lightly wounded. One of the seriously injured died during the night.
The source also explained that, among the slightly injured, a three-year-old child was admitted to the emergency room, who was stable and, as a precaution, was transferred to the D. Estefânia Hospital and was accompanied by his father.
The pregnant mother, admitted to the Emergency Department with minor injuries, was transferred to the Alfredo da Costa Maternity Hospital as a precaution.
Our thoughts and deepest sympathies to all those affected and to the families who have lost loved ones in the accident.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
