New tram opens in Athens ahead of Olympics

ATHENS, Greece -- Thousands of riders packed the city's first new tram Monday as it made its first trip through the Greek capital ahead of next month's Olympic Games.

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Designed primarily to ease chronic congestion on the capital's busy streets, the tram system also was built with the Aug. 13-29 games in mind. Traffic jams are a serious problem in Athens, which has nearly 5 million residents and more than 2 million cars.

During the Olympics, trams will carry spectators from the city center to sports venues along Athens' southern seaside suburbs. The system can carry up to 80,000 people a day.

As the first tram rolled into central Syntagma square on Monday, passengers clapped just before the doors opened while dozens waiting on the platform jostled to get on.

Within the first three hours, the tram had carried more than 20,000 people, officials said.

"I see it is better than other means of transport," said Angeliki Papaioannou, 60, who used the tram to get from the beach to her home. "Of course we were waiting for it. We wanted it."

The tram's delivery date had for months remained uncertain, amid constant construction delays at Olympic venues that have worried International Olympic Committee officials.

The Socialists ousted in March elections after 11 years in government blamed the tram system delays on lawsuits from residents who did not want it going through their neighborhoods. Others, however, blamed the delays on mismanagement.

The new conservative government replaced the tram's management team and made construction crews work around the clock to complete the project.

"We managed to finish what looked like a disaster six months ago," said Alain Flausch, the project manager who heads the Brussels Transport Company.

The tram was handed over to the public in an elaborate ceremony at its depot, located at Athens' former airport in the southern seaside suburb of Hellenikon.

"I am sure that Athenians will love this transport, which is ecological, modern and cheap," Transport Minister Mihalis Liapis said.

One route follows 16 miles of track, taking one hour between Syntagma to Glyfada, a seaside suburb. Another route runs west from Glyfada to the Faliron seaside suburb.

The trams average 15 mph, and like Athens' buses, use special lanes during peak hours. But in many parts of the capital they also have their own lane permanently closed to all traffic.

"It is very slow. With the bus, I take half the time," said Simeon Sikarides, 50, an economist, who takes the bus to work everyday. "My concern is that it is just another bus that has made the roads more narrow."