The first investigative report on the deadly derailment of a popular Portugal funicular says a cable connecting the two cabins essentially snapped.

The crash left 16 dead and injured 21 others. Officials called it one of Lisbon's worst tragedies in recent memory.

The report by the Office for Air and Rail Accident Investigations said the two cabins had travelled not more than about six metres when they suddenly lost the balancing force provided by the connecting cable, the report said.

The yellow-and-white streetcar is known as Elevador da Gloria and goes up and down a steep downtown hill. The cabin at the top sped downward.

"The cabin's brakeman immediately applied the pneumatic brake and the hand brake to try to halt the movement," the report said.

"These actions had no effect in sto

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