In the latest attempt to promote lagging passenger use of the city’s tram system, the government announced yesterday a program in which theater-goers would be eligible for a discount on the price of the play’s ticket if they arrive at the venue by tram.

Titled “Pame Theatro” (Let’s Go to the Theater), the scheme gives patrons a discount of between 30 to 80 percent at 30 different theaters in Athens if they present a tram ticket validated within the last 90 minutes.

The government ran a similar scheme over the summer for people attending local pay beaches after Athenians showed reluctance to use the transport service which went into service in time for the Olympic Games last year.

Currently some 40,000 people use the tram per day, well short of the government’s target of 80,000 on a daily basis. The program will be on offer during November and December on a trial basis and may be extended over the winter.