Very light rail vehicle to run in Coventry

Transport Design International of Stratford on Avon has won a tender to create a state-of-the-art, lightweight, battery powered, rail guided vehicle, which will eventually be able to run without a driver. This VLR system will be part of an integrated transport solution for Coventry, and it has been funded by £12.2m the Local Growth Fund and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Devolution Deal, and is being managed by researchers from WMG at Warwick University.

The VLR system will be compatible with the Midland Metro, and the Council will work collaboratively with Transport for the West Midlands (TfWM) to ensure that operating systems, branding an information are consistent across the West Midlands.

Transport Design International managing director, Martin Pemberton said: ” As champions of sustainable lightweight transport solutions, TDI team is very proud to have been selected to undertake this exciting flagship project for Coventry.”

Cllr Jim O’Bolye, cabinet member for jobs and regeneration at Coventry City Council said: “This is a really important milestone in the development of a very light railway system in Coventry and we are delighted that WMG has appointed Transport Design International to design and build a completely new rail vehicle for Coventry.”

Collaboration on the project has also been assisted by the WMCA’s decision to allocate specialist resources to provide technical support, advice and guidance to the project team as the scheme develops.

The prototype vehicle, which will be tested at the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre in Dudley, will carry 20 seated passengers to a maximum of 70 passengers, including people standing.

Associate Professor Darren Hughes of WMG added: ” Current opportunities for innovation in the rail sector are exciting. Light weight technologies that will be introduced during this project have the potential to revolutionise public transport whilst also strengthening the UK High Value Manufacturing sector.”