Various reports indicate that the gate to the tram depot in the southern Polish city of Katowice was open, making it possible for the man to set out on a tram ride.
From the capital of Poland’s coal belt, he drove on to the neighbouring city of Chorzów, where he was spotted by a ‘fellow’ motorman.
Alarmed by the low speed of the vehicle and the service number that doesn’t operate in the city, the other motorman informed the police, who cut off electricity to halt the tram.
Surprisingly though, the vehicle called at the tram stops, taking on and dropping off passengers.
“At the time of the incident, the man had no alcohol in his system. He said he’s a motorman’s son and wanted to see for himself how it feels to drive a tram,” a spokesman for the Chorzów police has told the media.
The 25-year-old has been detained for three months on charges of committing larceny and posing a risk to land traffic, for which he can face up to 8 years in prison.
The €1.5m tram has for now been grounded, pending further police probing of the case.
(pjm)
Source: Gazeta Wyborcza