In a statement to journalists at the scene of the accident in central Lisbon, the president of Carris stated that the maintenance of the Elevador da Glória has been undertaken by an external company, Main Energy, for 14 years, and an investigation is underway to determine if a maintenance issue was involved.
“The maintenance protocol was scrupulously followed,” stated Brito Bogas, emphasizing that the last major maintenance of the Elevador da Glória occurred in 2022, with general maintenance scheduled every four years. The plan also includes weekly, monthly, and daily inspections, all of which were performed.
The official further noted that additional maintenance is performed every two years, scheduled for 2024 in this instance.
The public transport company’s plan also covers the Elevadores do Lavra and da Bica.
“Carris values safety greatly, with very rigorous protocols and excellent professionals for many years, so we must understand what happened, and we will find out,” said Pedro de Brito Bogas, while also noting it was “a very sad day.”
The Elevador da Glória in Lisbon derailed this Wednesday at 18:04 on Calçada da Glória.
The INEM announced that the accident resulted in 15 fatalities and 18 injuries, with five in serious condition and 13 suffering minor injuries.
The government declared a national day of mourning on Thursday.
The Elevador da Glória is managed by Carris, connecting Restauradores to the Jardim de São Pedro de Alcântara in Bairro Alto, over approximately 265 meters, and is a popular attraction for tourists.
