UK: Colas Rail UK has begun construction of an 800 m section of Very Light Rail track between Coventry University Technology Park and the railway station as part of the city council’s VLR pilot programme.
The VLR concept based on lightweight battery railcars running on a novel shallow trackform aims to make light rail viable for small and medium-sized cities by enabling lines to be built in half the time and at less than half the cost of a traditional tramway.
The first phase of the programme saw a 220 m section of track installed on Queen Victoria Road last year to demonstrate how the trackform avoided the need for extensive excavations and expensive utility relocations. Trial running was then undertaken with the prototype vehicle.
The seond phase will incorporate a service area and charging station at the university’s Mile Lane site. The council wants to see the demonstrator route operational by October 2027, allowing delegates to the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress to be held at the NEC to experience the service.
If the demonstration proves successful, the line would remain in place as part of a permanent VLR network.
‘We worked with Colas Rail to deliver our first demonstrator route, so I’m glad to welcome them back to the team for the next phase which see our innovative track and vehicle operating in live traffic’, said Councillor Jim O’Boyle on February 23. ’We know it goes down fast, we know its really good value and we know it has the potential to transform how people move around small to medium sized cities. The route to Coventry University’s Technology Park will allow us to showcase the benefits of CVLR in a live environment, proving how this innovative system can be delivered quickly, affordably and with minimal disruption.
‘It’s an exciting moment for Coventry, and brings us significantly closer to a transport network that reflects the ambition and ingenuity of our city.’
- Learn more: read Rail Business UK’s in-depth article on the Coventry Very Light Rail project.
