To thunderous music and great applause, a Luas tram crashed through a presentation screen at the official opening of the tram system in Dublin today.
There was an air of excitement as Luas officials, dignitaries, people from the surrounding area and mediaclimbed on board one of the four waiting Luas tramsfor the first tram journey in nearly half a century from Sandyford to St Stephen's Green.
The driver of one of the trams, Mr Alan Heffernan told passengers the tram would take around twenty minutes to reach the city centre.
He was true to his word. The tram left Sandyford Depot at 1.20 p.m. and arrived atSt Stephen's Green precisely 20 minutes later.
There was a cheer on board as the tram pulled out of Sandyford Depot at the start of the route. The journey was smooth and comfortable as the tram sped along the line, passing pristine new stations en route.
The driver sounded a quiet "ding-ding" warning bell as he passed the stations.
When pulling into Dundrum station, the dream of an integrated Dublin transport network seemed closer to becoming a reality as the voice on the intercom informed passengers they could get buses to Enniskerry, Dun Laoghaire and other areas.
The first major test for the Luas came when it intersected with traffic in Stillorgan. The traffic light went red, the cars stopped and the Luas continued, no problem. There was, however, a garda standing by just in case.
The route itself has surprisingly little contact with motorists. In fact, it only encounters other road users in the city centre after Charlemont Station when the Luas lines run parallel to motorists along Harcourt Street.
Indeed, it felt good to be able to look out the window at the gridlock and wave to people in their cars or on buses as the Luas passed by.
