A new light rail system will begin operating in central Rio de Janeiro this weekend, cutting journey times for commuters and visitors, reducing car traffic and making it easier for people with a physical impairment to get around the city.

The first parts of the tram network, known locally as the VLT after the Portuguese initials for light rail transit, are set to enter service this Sunday (5 June).

"It is an option for urban mobility with 100% accessibility," Rio's transport secretary Rafael Picciani said at a press conference to mark 100 days until the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games on Monday (30 May).

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When fully complete, the 28km (17 mile) network will transport an estimated 300,000 people per day. The trams will connect the domestic airport, the long-distance bus station, the ferry and cruise ship terminals, the main commuter train station and Rio's historic centre and business district. There will be a total of 32 stops, many of which will be integrated with existing metro stations and stops for the city's bus rapid transit (BRT) network.

This weekend, service will start on a short stretch of the network, linking Santos Dumont airport to the renovated waterfront area, which will be a major entertainment zone during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Before the Games, the service will be extended to the city's main bus station.

When fully functioning, trams will operate around the clock, seven days a week, in intervals ranging from every three minutes during the day to every 30 minutes in the early hours. Each tram will have capacity to carry 420 passengers. Tickets will cost 3.80 reais.

The city is running a public awareness campaign to educate pedestrians and road-users about the new trams. In the first weeks of operation, a reduced service will run to help locals get used to sharing the city centre with the vehicles.

The construction of the VLT network has transformed the face of central Rio (Photo: Porto Maravilha)

To ensure accessibility, the city has invested in ramps at the stations and has installed tactile paving, guiding blocks and spaces for wheelchair users in the trams. Picciani said that during the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games there will be a free shuttle service that will take people with an impairment between venues and public transport stations. The city has also expanded its fleet of special taxis for people with limited mobility; the number of vehicles has risen from 30 in September last year to 92 now, with a target of 100 by the time of the Games.

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Jefinho, a 5-a-side football star who has twice won Paralympic gold, said at the press conference on Monday that "Rio has been improving in terms of accessibility and I believe the Paralympic Games will represent a turning point. I hope that the work carried out here serves as an example for other cities to follow."

The mayor of Rio has also proposed extending the tram network southwards from the centre towards the upmarket neighbourhoods of Humaitá, Gávea and Jardim Botanico, where there is currently no metro service.

According to city authorities, in 2009 only 18 per cent of Rio's population was covered by mass transit and their options were limited to trains and the metro. By 2017, that proportion will rise to 63 per cent, thanks to major investments in the tram network, BRT corridors and new metro stations.

The light rail network will be one of the most visible legacies of Rio 2016 (Image: Porto Maravilha)