The two children of funicular tram operator André Marques, who died in the tragic Elevador da Glória accident in Lisbon last year, will each receive only a €160 per month payout until they complete secondary education, public transport operator Carris revealed this week.
According to the internal regulations of Carris’ Scholarship Programme, approved by the company’s board of directors, the children of André Marques will benefit from Special Support Scholarships. The measure will apply retroactively to the start of the current academic year (2025/2026) and provides each child with a monthly payment equivalent to 30% of the ‘Indexante de Apoio Social’ (IAS) until they finish secondary school. Should they go on to higher education, the monthly support will increase to 50% of the IAS.
The IAS for 2026 has been set at €537.13, meaning 30% corresponds to €161.13 per month, while 50% amounts to €268.56.
In a statement sent to the news agency Lusa, Carris said that the regulation approved on Thursday “takes immediate effect, following consultation with the Workers’ Committee”.
As six months have passed since the accident, each of the two children is entitled to receive €966.78 in back payments due to the retroactive nature of the measure. The support will then be paid on a monthly basis.
The Elevador da Glória, a historic funicular widely used by tourists in central Lisbon, derailed on 3rd September, with one of its two carriages violently crashing into a nearby building. The accident left 16 people dead and more than 20 injured, including both Portuguese nationals and foreign visitors.
Tram operator André Marques, 40, was among those killed in the crash, leaving behind two young children.
On Wednesday, Lisbon City Council, led by mayor Carlos Moedas of the Social Democratic Party, acknowledged that the scholarship intended for the children had not yet been paid.
The Carris Scholarship Programme is aimed at the children of employees currently in service and includes three different types of grant. Among them are Special Support Scholarships for “children of staff who died in the line of duty, regardless of their level of education”.
The programme also includes Academic Merit Scholarships for secondary school pupils (Years 10, 11 and 12) and university students who stand out for their academic performance, dedication and educational trajectory, as well as Social Support Scholarships for students from Year 1 through to higher education whose families have more limited financial means.
According to the municipal transport company, the scholarship programme aims to “support the personal and academic development of employees’ children, promote educational success and foster equal opportunities, while helping to ease the financial burden on families”.
Source: JN
