New investigative appointments have been authorized for railway accident investigations, as per the order no. 10832/2025, published today in the Diário da República, effective from Tuesday. The government mandates “the allocation of three investigators for the field of railway accident investigation, enabling GPIAAF to employ specialized technicians required to conduct accident and incident investigations, in accordance with European and national legislation”.
The decree is signed by the Ministers of State and Finance, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, and Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz.
While the appointment of investigators at GPIAAF is managed by its director, it requires prior ministerial approval through a joint order from the Government members responsible for Finance and Infrastructure, establishing the investigator allocation.
According to the law, GPIAAF investigators are appointed on a service commission basis for three years, renewable for identical terms. Candidates are selected “from professionals of recognized merit and proven experience in matters related to railway accident investigations.”
On September 4, during a press conference following the Glória elevator accident, GPIAAF director Nelson Oliveira stated that the office currently had only one available investigator specializing in the railway sector.
The following day, in response to an inquiry from Renascença, the Ministry of Infrastructure indicated that the human resource reinforcement at GPIAAF was “in the finalization phase.”
The Glória elevator, managed by Carris (under the municipality of Lisbon), derailed on September 3, resulting in 16 fatalities and around two dozen injuries, involving both Portuguese and foreigners of various nationalities. The accident is under investigation.
