Lisbon plans to replace Elevador da Glória with new system

Carris, the municipal transport company in Lisbon, has announced plans to replace the Elevador da Glória with a modern system following a fatal accident in September 2025. The incident, which involved a cable failure that caused a cabin to derail, resulted in 16 to 17 deaths and numerous injuries.

An international public tender for the design and installation of the new equipment is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2027. The project aims to have the new system operational by 2029. Rui Lopo, president of Carris, emphasized that the project is a “new solution, not a reconstruction,” intended to meet current safety and accessibility standards while preserving the historical identity of the site.

The new cabins will move away from traditional wood in favor of more impact-resistant materials. While specific details regarding capacity, traction models, and total costs have not yet been finalized, the design will aim to maintain a visual similarity to the original historic funicular to respect the city's heritage.