The BCIMO, which operates the Very Light rail Innovation Centre entered administration on 1 July, when an accelerated sales process was launched. It has now been revealed that Dudley Borough Council acquired the company on 14 July. The Council is looking for an operator to manage the Dudley site. The £32M centre with its 2.2km test track has continued day-to-day operation under the administrators.
Councillor Steve Clark, Cabinet Member for Resources at Dudley Council said, 'the council has previously provided support for BCIMO and so, when the board of directors put the organisation into administration, we made the decision to put in a bid for the business and assets to protect this investment. The bid was successful and as owners of the site, we will now be receiving income from existing tenants, while looking for an operator to take on the responsibility of operating the site. This wa an invest-to-save decision that will generate income for the Council now and into the future, champion local innovation and support the creation of high-value employment opportunities in our borough'.
The Very Light Rail Vehicle that was developed and tested at the centre was recently demonstrated on street track in the city of Coventry under the auspices of Coventry City Council. Councillor Jim O'Boyle of Coventry City Council welcomed the news and said it was business as usual for the creation of an 800m VLR line linking Coventry Railway Station to the Coventry University Technology Park on Puma Way. The vehicle did not return to Dudley after the demonstration ended, but was taken to the manufacturer at Alcester to incorporate improvements resulting from the trial.
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