Edinburgh's trams will begin transporting passengers by May next year, the city council has said.
The first section of the tram route was completed and handed over to the council in March and since the summer, work has been under way to install overhead and underground cables.
The trams will be operational by May next year, Edinburgh City Council said.
Transport convener Lesley Hinds said: "I'm very keen for it to be finished even earlier if possible."
Tram testing between the airport and Edinburgh Park will begin in early October while test trams will be running along the entire route by early December.
After six years of construction, the streets of the capital will be clear of roadworks by October 19, according to the council.
"I've asked that all of these time-frames are reassessed at the beginning of next year so that any further gains in progress can be factored into our plans," Ms Hinds said.
The trams project has been hit by problems including a long-running dispute between the council and its contractor. Work restarted last year on a more expensive but much shorter line.
It was originally intended that trams would run from Edinburgh Airport to Newhaven in the north for £545 million but will now terminate in York Place in the city centre and cost £776 million.
"Our target for launch is now May 2014 but we'll bring this forward if we can and we'll announce a start date for the tram service when we're 100% sure," Ms Hinds said.
"There's a major testing, commissioning and driver training programme to be done, work to be done on tram stops and, of course, a Scottish winter to get through."
Around 150 tram journeys will be checked every day during the testing phase.
Operators will make sure businesses, residents and commuters on the route know what to expect, according to the council, and before December they will start a city-wide safety and awareness campaign.
Transport Minister Keith Brown said of the announcement: "This is good news for people and business in Edinburgh and we are all looking forward to a city centre free of road works and major disruption ahead of the busy Christmas period.
"It puts an end to the misleading speculation over recent weeks about when the trams would be finished and provides much-needed clarity to businesses to plan ahead with confidence."
The Scottish Government is committed to modernising transport systems across Scotland, Mr Brown said.
Gordon Dewar, chief executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: "This is fantastic news. Trams will offer those arriving in Edinburgh an efficient, consistent and modern way to access the capital.
"Not only that, but when the links with our national rail network at Haymarket, Edinburgh Park and importantly Gogar are complete, it will provide real integration and slash journey times across Scotland."
John Donnelly, chief executive of Marketing Edinburgh. said: "We welcome the good news that the city centre will be clear of tram disruption ahead of the busy festive period and launch of Edinburgh's Winter Festival celebrations in November."
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