COVENTRY’S Very Light Rail (VLR) project has reached a massive milestone after the vehicle was successfully run on its test track in Dudley.
The battery-powered vehicle and ground-breaking track system aims to offer cities the chance to install rapid passenger tram systems faster and at a much lower cost than traditional light rail systems.
The track is thinner than the ones used in existing light rail or tram systems, meaning it can be laid just 30cm deep into the road surface, reducing the need to divert all pipes and cables.
The project has been backed with £40million from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) awarded to the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) by the Department for Transport.
The cash is being used to progress the research and development to deliver an affordable integrated mass transit system that could be deployed in cities across the country.
This work is leading up to a real-world demonstration of VLR on the streets of Coventry city centre.
Coventry City Council’s cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, Coun Jim O’Boyle, said: “It was fantastic to see the vehicle running on its track for the very first time.
“This track is crucial to our vision and this successful test is a big milestone for the project.
“This test will also show that our vehicle can run on tight corners and up and down hills – it’s this that will enable it to run in smaller and medium-sized cities.
“Coventry Very Light Rail is pioneering – with the potential to create new jobs and tackle climate change by providing people with a zero-emission mode of travel.
“This is Coventry doing what it does best. We led the industrial revolution here in Coventry and now, with fantastic projects like this, we are leading the green industrial revolution too.”
