Coventry starts to build new VLR line

Under contract to `Coventry City Council, Colas rail UK has started to build 800m of new line for the next stage of the Very Light Rail (VLR) project. This will link the city’s mainline rail station with `coventry ~University Technology Park. VLR involves lightweight battery trams running on sdhallopw track form rails that speed up the construction time and save money compared to a traditional tramway. Last year a trial was carried out on 220m of track on Queen Victoria Rd. The second phase involves mixed traffic running and incorporates a service area and charging station at the University’s Mile Lane campus. The council hopes that completion can be achieved by October 2027 to co-incide with the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress that is being eld at the nearby National Exhibition Centre. 

 

Cllr Jim O’Boyle, the responsible member of the city council, said ‘We worked with Colas Rail to deliver our first demonstration route, so I am glad to welcome them back to the team for the next phase which will see our innovative track and vehicle operating in live traffic. We know it goes down fast, we know it is 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 will allow us to showcase the benefits of VLR in a live environment, proving how this innovative system can be delivered affordably and with minimal disruption.