funicular
 

All right, confess; how many of you had to look up "funicular"?

I did.

Re: funicular
 

No reason whatsoever for anyone to need to look it up as there are plenty of news reports in every language showing the vehicles. I feel sure that you did not intend to make light of such a tragedy but that is the way that it is being perceived.

A huge loss of life in a tragic accident with many more in critical condition has instigated three days of mourning. At the moment there does not appear to be information on the nationalities of those who have died but inevitably there will be a list produced stating how many were from each country. They were first and foremost human beings, men, women and children who tragically lost their lives so in one way their nationality is irrelevant but I suppose that this is necessary for statistical purposes.

Rosemary

Re: funicular
 

No, I didn't mean to make light of it; just that the word was used in the early news reports as if everyone should know what it means.
I'm a machine nut, yet I didn't know.

Last time I was in Lisbon, I was struck by the open three wheelers, or "tuk-tuks", weaving through traffic loaded with people unsecured by seatbelts or anything else.
Those thigs are inherently unstable and will roll over if you look at them too hard.

Safety doesn't seem to be anyone's concern.

Re: funicular
 

In Italy there are quite a number of funicolari currently operating. Most have been around for more than 100 years. There dont seem to have been many accidents with them.
Near where I live in Orvieto there is a new funicular that climbs 150m in 2minutes over a distance 580m. There is also a 4km one that takes passengers to the centre of Perugia built in 2008. If maintained properly they are very safe.

Re: funicular
 

A quick Google reveals there are thirteen in the UK

I would imagine that no matter where ever they are in the world they are under going rigorous inspection at the moment

So sad

Re: funicular
 

We have one in Hong Kong that started work in 1888. It’s still going strong but has had many upgrades since its launch. It’s massively popular with tourists despite being expensive but is considered very safe.

Re: funicular
 

All three in Lisbon are about the same age and have worked without issue.......... until now.

As they say "past performance is not indicative of future results" :unsure:

Re: funicular
 

Like elevators, they're all built with safety systems designed to stop the car if the cable gives way; but I doubt those mechanisms are ever 'live' tested.

Re: funicular
 

The BBC is saying..

"Although the brakeman activated the pneumatic brakes and a manual brake when the cable came loose, it is not clear whether another, automatic brake came on as it was supposed to"

The carriage was travelling at 60km/hr when it crashed.
Fortunately the brake worked on the other carriage.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2dnp9pre2lo

Re: funicular
 

Although 60kph may sound a lot to some people, 37mph might not.

It's a reminder of the damage that a relatively low-speed collision can do..... I was hit by a car doing under 30 mph. It shattered my right arm, fractured my skull and put me in a coma for 4 days.