Portuguese police have named David Young, 82, from the Holyhead area on Anglesey, as the third British victim of last Wednesday’s Glória funicular derailment in Lisbon, authorities in North Wales said Monday. Mr. Young was among 16 people killed when the yellow, tram-like vehicle left its tracks and struck a building in Portugal’s capital.
Cheshire Police confirmed over the weekend that two other British victims were Kayleigh Smith, 36, and her partner, Will Nelson, 44. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the prime minister was "deeply saddened" by the incident and that "his thoughts are with their families and those affected by this terrible incident. We stand united with Portugal during this difficult time."
Portuguese investigators have said a cable along the Glória funicular’s route snapped, although they added that the rest of the mechanism was functioning properly. Authorities said the brakeman attempted to apply emergency brakes but was unable to prevent the vehicle’s derailment. The precise cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Police and emergency services responded to the scene after the vehicle came off the tracks and collided with a building in a central area popular with tourists. Officials have identified victims as nationals of Portugal, South Korea, Switzerland, Canada, France, Britain, Ukraine and the United States. Local authorities have not released a full list of names pending family notifications.
The Glória line is one of four historic funicular railways in Lisbon — Glória, Lavra, Bica and Graça — that operate yellow tram-like cars on steep inclines and are frequented by both residents and visitors. The derailment has renewed scrutiny of the safety and maintenance of the city’s heritage transport lines, which run on steep, narrow tracks in dense urban neighborhoods.
Portuguese police and transportation officials have said they are carrying out detailed inspections of the line and the vehicle involved, while prosecutors opened an inquiry to determine potential criminal or civil liability. Emergency responders and forensic teams have been working at the scene and with hospitals to identify victims and notify relatives.
British police said families had been informed and consular assistance was being provided to those affected. Local authorities in Lisbon urged patience as investigators reconstruct the sequence of events and examine mechanical components, maintenance records and video and witness evidence.
The accident has prompted expressions of sympathy from international officials and has highlighted the challenges of maintaining aging transport infrastructure in heavily touristed urban areas. Authorities cautioned that results of the formal investigation could take time and that early findings might change as more evidence is reviewed.