A tram was a type of passenger transportation that utilized repulsorlift technology, enabling it to float and move. Unlike most repulsorlift vehicles, these trams used a special guidance rod system that was built into a track on the road. Typically, RX-series pilot droids were the operators of these trams.
Trams had a design that incorporated a single, open car, connected by an accordion joint, which allowed for flexible movement. Inside, passengers sat on double seats positioned along a central aisle, with a bench at the back. They also featured large, panoramic viewports and automatic sliding doors to make getting on and off easier. When the tram was moving, passengers were generally expected to remain seated.
During the New Republic Era, trams were in service on At Attin, a remote planet known as a Jewel of the Old Republic. Furthermore, residents of At Attin had access to school trams that linked a city to its surrounding suburbs. These trams either shared the roads with other vehicles or used dedicated underpasses to transport students to At Attin Middle School Gamma. The young tram riders were known for not following the instructions of the pilot, with some misbehaving by sticking gum on the back of his head. Before the tram arrived, younglings would wait at specific locations and times. Being late for the tram could result in having to travel the distance to school independently, an experience that happened to Wim, a human schoolboy, around 9 ABY. He attempted to get to school on a hoverbike, taking an unconventional route through the woods.
Trams made their first appearance in the live-action TV show Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, debuting in the episode "This Could Be a Real Adventure," which was the first episode and aired on Disney+ on December 2, 2024. Before the show's premiere, trams were shown in various promotional materials, including two trailers released on August 10, 2024, and November 1, 2024, respectively.
Doug Chiang, the co-production designer, said that the school trams in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew were intended to be a "Star Wars version" of American school buses. However, the creators chose to avoid using yellow trams so that the school bus reference wouldn't be too obvious. David W. Collins, the sound editor and a big fan of Star Tours and Disney theme parks, also included a sound from one of the theme park rides, which can be heard in "This Could Be a Huge Adventure" when the school tram arrives.