Plan unveiled for 'driverless' light-rail people-mover in Coventry

[rebbonk]

...O'Boyle said the business case for a VLR...".

There is no business case for this little hobby-horse of O'Boyle's. It's nothing more than a vanity project to massage his own ego.

[dutchman]

Work starts on Coventry's very light rail scheme



Installation work for the new on-road test track to showcase the Coventry's Very Light Rail technology has started in they city centre. The 220 metre demonstration track is designed to show how the pioneering transport system can be delivered faster and at a much lower cost than traditional tramways.

It is due to be completed and ready for on-road tests by the summer. The track is being installed by Colas Rail UK under contract from Coventry City Council, which is leading the ground-breaking project.

Funding for the project is from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) awarded to the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) by the Department for Transport. Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, said: “This revolutionary Very Light Rail technology, in which the West Midlands is leading the way, will slash costs and accelerate construction times for tram networks – allowing us to better deliver on my vision to connect communities with more affordable and accessible public transport.

“We are investing millions in this project, and the start of work on this test track shows how close we are to making this a reality.” Cllr Jim O’Boyle cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change with Coventry City Council said: “I am pleased that Colas has been appointed to deliver this really exciting stage of Very Light Rail in Coventry City Centre.

"We think it will be a real game changer in terms of how people move around, especially in towns and cities and it will save cash, cut carbon and eventually provide a driverless hop on and hop off option. It will be great to see it in the street scene and for local people to be able to actually ride on it.

"And of course, there is lots of interest from across the UK and further afield so we are really looking forward to showing everyone how quickly the track can be laid – that really is the clever bit of our system.”

Iain Anderson, urban managing director for Colas Rail. the company installing the track, said: “We are delighted Coventry City Council chose Colas Rail UK for this strategically important scheme and look forward to developing this innovative solution together.”

[rebbonk]

It'll all end in tears, mark my words!

[dutchman]

First sighting of Coventry's new tram for very light rail scheme



Eagle-eyed Coventrians have spotted the brand new tram which has arrived in the city this week as part of the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) scheme. A new 220m test track has been built on Queen Victoria Road in the city centre which will allow residents to try the scheme and give feedback ahead of the wider rollout.

The arrival of the new tram comes a week before the first test rides are due to take place. A limited number of spaces were available on the test tram, starting on 28 May and running throughout the end of the month as well as dates in June. These spots have now all been filled.

The CVLR vehicle now in place is battery-powered, meaning it produces zero emissions at the point of use. It is hoped by providing an attractive alternative to the car, CVLR can improve Coventry’s air quality.

CVLR has been in planning for years - its completion will see Coventry's return to the tram for the first time in over 80 years. It is hoped several lines will branch out around the city, though these are yet to be confirmed.

Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration, and Climate Change at Coventry City Council, Councillor Jim O'Boyle, said earlier this month: "This is a significant step forward for the CVLR project and how cities like Coventry can rethink public transport infrastructure.

"We are not just piloting technology, we are building confidence in a scalable model that puts climate, community, and cost-effectiveness at the heart of urban mobility. And I’m pleased to say that this innovation has been born out of our manufacturing skills in this city and the wider region. The green economy is growing, and CVLR is at the heart of that here."

[dutchman]

Coventry Very Light Rail to be expanded to six city areas - full list



Coventry City Council has revealed that a first-of-its-kind transport project is set to be expanded. Very Light Rail (VLR) is currently being trialled on Queen Victoria Road and Greyfriars Road.

Coventry Very Light Rail has been described as an affordable transport system with a battery-powered vehicle which eliminates the need for overhead wiring. Tracks are laid 30cm within existing roads and have been installed in the city centre in just eight weeks, Cllr Jim O'Boyle said.

Residents are being given the opportunity to try the new transport system in June. One who hopped on board on Friday (May 30) said it was 'the best thing Coventry could have ever wished for.'

Cllr O'Boyle revealed that the Department for Transport has released £12m for the project. Funds will be used to expand the track from Coventry Railway Station to the Coventry University Technology Park on Puma Way.

CoventryLive tried the new VLR system yesterday (June 3) and heard from Cllr O'Boyle, who has been spearheading the project. He revealed they will also be looking to expand in 'growth areas' across the city, including the Coventry Gigafactory.

Speaking to CoventryLive, Cllr O'Boyle said: “Coventry passengers deserve a choice of how they travel around our city. Sheffield, Manchester, Nottingham, Birmingham, London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, all of those have choice, so we should have that choice as well.”

Driver Graham Dibbins, from RailAdventure UK, said he has really enjoyed driving the VLR prototype vehicle along Queen Victoria Road and Greyfriars Road. He said: “It is brilliant! It is well put together and everything works as it should.”

Cllr O'Boyle said they will be looking to expand the transport system to Coventry Railway Station and Coventry University. It is hoped this phase of the project will be completed by December 2026.

Expanding VLR across the city will also create a significant number of jobs. Cllr O'Boyle said: “It is not just a transport system, it also creates job opportunities. We built this here, and we can manufacture this here, not just the vehicle but the track system, which is really the alchemy in all of this.”

As Coventry City Council owns the intellectual property for VLR, it has been in talks with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Cllr O'Boyle said they are 'interested' in the system, which is projected to cost around £189m.

Where will the Coventry Very Light Rail be expanded?

• Coventry University Technology Park on Puma Way
  
• Coventry Railway Station
  
• Coventry Airport/Coventry Gigafactory
  
• University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW)
  
• Ansty Park
  
• University of Warwick

[dutchman]