Coventry Set to Approve 800m Very Light Rail Demonstrator Route
Coventry City Council looks set to give the green light to the construction of an 800-metre twin-track Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) demonstrator route, marking a significant step forward for the city’s next-generation transport ambitions.
The line, planned to operate in both directions and within live traffic conditions, will link Coventry Railway Station with Coventry University Technology Park on Mile Lane. The project forms part of a long-term vision to develop a new urban transport mode designed specifically for small and medium-sized cities.
It follows a successful trial earlier this year, during which thousands of residents, stakeholders and industry experts were able to experience the first public CVLR demonstration. On Greyfriars Road, a 200-metre test section was installed in just eight weeks — considerably faster than conventional track-laying — demonstrating the concept’s potential to cut installation time, cost and disruption.
A key innovation lies in the track system itself, built from precast panels that can be laid quickly without deep excavation. As well as offering easy access to utilities beneath the roadway, the approach reduces carbon output during construction. The project also features a battery-powered vehicle, eliminating the need for overhead wires.
The long-term vision could see the first full commercial CVLR line operating between Coventry Railway Station and the West Midlands Investment Zone at GreenPower Park, with the ambition to expand into a 12-kilometre network serving Pool Meadow Bus Station, Ansty Park and key employment, healthcare and education sites across the city.
Final approval for the demonstrator will be considered at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 16 December. Councillor Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, said:
“Coventry Very Light Rail is pioneering transport innovation. It is a cost-effective and efficient alternative to conventional tram systems and we have proven it can be delivered at less than half the cost and in half the time. We are on to a real transport game changer here. It will be good for the environment, have no unsightly overhead cables and in the future, it has the potential to be autonomous – offering a hop on and hop off service. What’s more I think everyone that saw it here, and rode it, can agree that it looked great in the street and gave a quiet and smooth ride. I’m looking forward to seeing it back and providing the chance for even more people to have a go on it.”
Image: Coventry City Council