Hundreds lined up Thursday for the inaugural run of Vancouver's new Olympic Line streetcar along False Creek.

The line connects Granville Island and the new Canada Line Olympic Village Station at West 2nd Avenue and Cambie Street.

The six-minute trip is free, and is open between 6:30 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. seven days a week.

The line will operate until March 21.

The city spent $8.5 million to upgrade the old rail line. The cars are operated by Bombardier and on loan from Brussels, Belgium.

The city has said that following the Games, the streetcar system could be made permanent -- even expanded -- depending on funding.

The city hopes to eventually build a downtown streetcar line that would connect to Stanley Park, Yaletown and south along the Arbutus Corridor.

More information about the Olympic Line streetcar can be found here.