Tragedy has struck Lisbon’s funicular railway. A transport expert explains how these old-fashioned trains work.
4 September 2025
The deadly derailment has shone a spotlight on funicular railways.
These cable car–like transport systems are rare relics of the 19th century, found in only a few very hilly places around the world.
So how do they work? And why are they still in use?
These cable car–like transport systems are rare relics of the 19th century, found in only a few very hilly places around the world.
So how do they work? And why are they still in use?