A new tram system would link the city centre to the airport

The plans will now go to Scottish Executive ministers, who will have the final say, in March.

Opponents of the scheme, estimated to cost �600m, argue that it should be scrapped altogether or changed.

Councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of going ahead with the project, with 56 out of 58 supporting the plans at the full council meeting.

One councillor voted for their own alternative motion and one councillor was not present at the meeting in Edinburgh on Thursday.

The first route to be built would be west to east, linking the capital's airport with the Firth of Forth shore.

A second route is scheduled to go from Ocean Terminal in Leith to the city centre.

It is half a century since trams last operated in Scotland's capital.

This is the wrong scheme at the wrong time, it is hugely disruptive with little discernable benefit and will be hugely costly Kenny MacAskill MSP Scottish National Party

The start of construction work has been fixed provisionally for April next year, with services to begin running in 2010 or 2011.

The executive has already committed �450m for both lines.

Councillor Ricky Henderson, transport leader at Edinburgh Council, said the scheme was a vital one for the future of the capital.

"This is a momentous day for Edinburgh. Edinburgh is on the brink of major investment in its infrastructure, the scale of which has not been seen since the days of Queen Victoria.

"Edinburgh is no longer the sleepy city it once was, but is an ever-expanding, bustling city that needs a transport system that can move huge amounts of people quickly.

"Trams will give us the essential tool we will all need to get to work and meet up with friends easily and quickly in the future without getting stuck in ever-growing congestion.

"I am delighted that my colleagues in the council have so overwhelmingly backed trams for Edinburgh and look forward to seeing them on our streets."

Public funds

However, Scottish National Party MSP Kenny MacAskill said the scheme was a white elephant.

He said: "This is the wrong scheme at the wrong time, it is hugely disruptive with little discernable benefit and will be hugely costly.

"This will cost nearly �700m and for that we could renew every bus in Lothians to low-boarding and low-emission vehicles and we could run the entire service in Edinburgh for free for the next seven years.

"I think improving our bus service and upgrading Waverley Station is a much better use of public funds than a tram scheme which doesn't serve the vast majority of the citizens of Edinburgh."

Mr Henderson said the plan was an investment for future generations.