Coventry City Council has approved a new demonstrator line for Coventry University’s Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) network in a bid to showcase the potential benefits of the technology.
An initial 800-metre-long section is set to run from Coventry Railway Station to Coventry University’s Technology Park, with a new service area and charging station at the university’s Mile Lane site set to be established.
A previous CVLR demonstrator temporarily installed in Coventry City Centre last year
© Coventry University
If proven successful; the line will remain in place as part of a more permanent network, which would in turn be extended further afield.
The technology utilised in the establishment of CVLR allows tram routes to be built quickly and cheaply, whilst shallow tracks allow the majority of existing infrastructure to remain undisturbed.
Electric trams are designed to cope with sharper turns, allowing them to navigate through the more demanding city landscape and negating the need for wholescale changes to city layouts. The non-invasive construction of the tracks and routes negates the need for planning consent, expediting the overall delivery of the project.
Brendan O’Reilly, Sustainable Transport Manager at Coventry University, said:
CVLR is a first-of-its-kind transport system that offers huge benefits, not just for Coventry but for other cities across the globe of a similar size who may find a traditional tram system too costly or problematic.
We have collaborated closely with the city council and it is fantastic that Coventry University’s Technology Park will be the first stop on the demonstrator line. With our focus on sustainability, being able to offer transport from the railway station in the city centre to the Technology Park will help us encourage people to leave their cars at home.
The technology behind CVLR is owned by Coventry City Council so should other cities adopt it, this would be a very proud moment for us to see it help others.
Last year, a short demonstrator line was temporarily installed within Coventry city centre. This new line will allow the CVLR to run alongside live traffic, with Coventry City Council expecting to see the demonstrator fully operational by 2027, allowing delegates at the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress being staged at the NEC in October that year to be among those to experience it for themselves.
Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, said:
By approving this next and longer demonstrator route for Coventry Very Light Rail, we have taken a decisive step toward transforming how people move around our city. This is a bold investment in cleaner, smarter and more sustainable transport, and it shows our commitment to delivering real change for residents and businesses.
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 today’s decision brings us significantly closer to a transport network that reflects the ambition and ingenuity of our city.