A preliminary report into last month's funicular crash in Lisbon that killed 16 people has detailed a litany of failings.

Portugal's Air and Rail Accident Investigations Bureau said an underground cable - which acted as a counterweight between two carriages and broke, causing the crash - was defective and had never been certified for passenger transportation.

The report indicated the cable was not technically suitable and was acquired in 2022 by Carris, the operator responsible for Lisbon's public transport, which has since dismissed its head of maintenance for funiculars and trams.

The 140-year-old Glória funicular, a popular tourist attraction, derailed and crashed into a building on 3 September.

Among the dead were 11 foreigners, including three British nationals, and an additional 20 people sustained injuries.

The report emphasized a lack of oversight by Carris engineers and acknowledged that the cable had not undergone proper testing prior to its installation.

Furthermore, the supervision and maintenance of the funicular were inadequately managed by an outsourced company. This entity gave the Glória funicular a pass on the morning of the disaster, though it is uncertain if the inspection occurred that day.

The emergency brake system, which the driver activated when the cable snapped, also failed to operate correctly and had never been tested beforehand, according to the report.

Lisbon's Mayor Carlos Moedas remarked that the findings confirm the tragedy stemmed from technical issues rather than political mismanagement, despite facing accusations of failing to manage the city's funiculars adequately.

The Carris company stated that it's currently indeterminate if the issues with the cable directly contributed to the crash. They remarked that the same cables had operated without incident for over 600 days before the accident.

In light of the incident, all cable cars in Lisbon have been suspended until sufficient safety checks are implemented, with an immediate review of all braking systems underway.

The Bureau has recommended closing a loophole that exempts historic funiculars from legal oversight and has urged the establishment of a safety management system aligned with European standards. A more comprehensive report will be completed within the next year, highlighting the ongoing need for improved safety protocols in Lisbon's antiquated transport systems.