First passenger test run for Coventry very light rail tram

On 16 February the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO) carried out a successful demonstration of the Coventry Very Light Rail tram on the 2.2km test track at the Very Light Rail Innovation Centre in Dudley, West Midlands. 

 

On board were Minister of State for Rail Huw Merriman, Dudley North MP Marco Long, Dudley Council Leader Patrick Harley and members of BCIMO. 

 

The group was taken around the workshop and given a briefing on the Coventry Very Light Rail project by Colin Knight from Coventry City Council. The 56-passenger vehicle is battery powered and can handle 15m radius curves. 

 

Huw Merriman said, ‘It is great to be here and I think it’s pretty unique and innovative technology that’s being deployed here, and it look to be the future. We want to see more transit systems in place and very light rail systems that can be installed in many places’.