New Luxembourg tram gets red carpet treatment but swallows it

The red carpet was rolled out on Saturday morning for special tram open days and a chance to take the first tram trips ahead of the official launch in December. But that red carpet proved to be a nightmare causing major damage.

For the entire weekend visitors have the opportunity to take rides on Luxembourg City’s new transport baby – the tram.

As the first train rolled out of the tram station in Kirchberg, there was much excitement from the many passengers waiting to hop on for the first time.

The journey didn’t last long though. As the tram approached its first stop a red carpet laid especially for the occasion, became caught on the bodywork.

The driver, unaware of this, rolled the tram to the designated stop causing part of the bodywork to rip on the side of the vehicle, and the carpet became firmly jammed.

This wasn’t exactly the grand entrance that LuxTram had envisaged for the first tram, but most passengers were amused by the incident and no doubt several employees.

However the damage to the tram, at first sight, seems significant. Possibly a whole panel needs to be replaced.

However this did not mean the open days ground to a halt. Other trams were quickly brought out to take their maiden voyages with the public, but this time no red carpet was to be seen.

(Adam Walder, adam.walder@wort.lu, +352 49939721)