Nottingham Express Transit (NET) Line One will start operating from 0600 GMT on 9 March.

However, that date is still subject to approval from the Railway Inspectorate after a final safety check.

The �200m project has been put back twice, and on Monday the first pedestrian to be hit by a tram required hospital treatment.

I have enjoyed the confidence and support of council members and the understanding and forbearance of the public of Nottingham Neil Bates executive director of NET

A total of 15 trams had been expected to begin running in November, but the opening date suffered a series of setbacks due to a derailment caused by a points failure.

Work was also hindered by difficulties in finding experienced sub-contractors and sourcing appropriate building materials.

As drivers began tests on the route late last year, with sandbags in the place of customers, officials feared that the new transport network would not be ready until April.

Mike Casebourne, project director of the Arrow Light Rail consortium, said: "We are delighted to be in a position to start public services a month sooner than forecast late last year."

Neil Bates executive director of NET, the local public and private sector organisation behind the project, said: "I have enjoyed the confidence and support of council members and the understanding and forbearance of the public of Nottingham."

At peak periods trams will run every six minutes and it is hoped that the system will carry 11 million passengers a year, reducing annual car journeys in the city by two million.