First two trams on 'Green line' test journey

The first two trams to cross the full length of Dublin's new Sandyford to city centre - or "Green" - line were welcomed by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, yesterday.

However, they were immediately met with a demand for €5 million in compensation from art gallery owner Ms Noelle Campbell Sharp on behalf of herself and about 14 other traders on Harcourt Street for loss of business.

The traders claim the business loss was due to the construction work on the tramway.

But for the assembled construction workers, politicians, media and onlookers, it was a day of wonder as first one and then a second tram slid across the Harcourt Street/St Stephen's Green corner and along the west side of St Stephen's Green.

"Typical," shouted one on-looker. "You wait bloody nearly 20 years for a tram and then two come along at once."

Even the Minister for Transport couldn't help repeating the joke to some staff from the Railway Procurement Agency in case it had been missed.

It was not, however, the first time the tram has been feted in the city centre - details of the plush purple and yellow interior, the space under the seats for guide dogs and the maximum €2 fare from Sandyford to Dublin were already well known.

Undeterred, the Railway Procurement Agency handed out press releases pointing out that seven million people are expected to use the Green Line in year one, and that 30 of the 40 Luas drivers are currently being trained, while the remaining 10 drivers will begin training in April.

But with 40 drivers for 40 trams and a five-minute peak service schedule, as well as a promised "nightlink service", it wasn't immediately clear how a drivers' roster would operate.