Santo Domingo.- Thousands of people from all over the capital and Santo Domingo province made the most of yesterday’s Christmas Day holiday to take a trip on the Metro. Long lines formed as enthusiastic passengers waited to try out the new public transport system.

“We’ve employed full security measures to ensure no-one gets hurt. The capital has emptied and come to ride the Santo Domingo Metro. There has been a massive flow of passengers and we’ve had to work wonders to control the crowds”, said station director Natividad Ruiz.

Many passengers were enthusiastic about the service: “It’s wonderful, we are having a great time, this Metro is interesting, it is the best Christmas gift for a day out with children and relatives”, said an excited Rafaelina Arias after getting on the train, which has been running since Monday in a pre-commercial operation where passengers can try out the service free of charge until January 7th.

Passengers have to comply with a series of rules: they cannot carry arms, alcoholic drinks or eat inside the Metro installations. Twenty-one stations are now operational on the first Metro route, which runs from Villa Mella to Centro de los Héroes.

Rafaela Herrera, who was riding the train with her son, compared it with the Madrid Metro. “This is better and more attractive, as it is new”.

Elderly people, pregnant women and children are given preferential treatment on the Metro.