Coventry Very Light Rail - Awarded to RailAdventure

[Cowley]

Thread reopened for @P Binnersley to update

 

[P Binnersley]

Coventry Council to approve 800m twin track trial of Very Light Rail

Coventry City Council is set to approve plans for an 800m twin-track demonstrator of its Very Light Rail system running from Coventry station to Coventry University Technology Park on Mile Lane.
The short route, which will operate in both directions within live traffic, is the next planned stage of the city’s bid to develop a lower‑cost, lower‑impact alternative to conventional tram systems. The proposal is due before the council’s Cabinet on 16 December.

Approved by Cabinet and due before Full Council on 13th January.

Route map.

From the Council Report:

The 800m route is intended to form part of the proposed first commercial route (subject to business case approval) running from the railway station to the West Midlands Investment Zone (Greenpower Park), with potential to extend northwards from the railway station through the city centre to connect to Pool Meadow, University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire (UHCW) and to a Park and Ride at Ansty Park. The 800 m demonstrator section will be delivered using allocated grant funding from the City Region Sustainable Transport Funding (CRSTS) and is scheduled to be constructed by March 2027. Further funding will be sought from the Transport for City Region (TCR) fund, which replaces CRSTS from 1 April 2027.

Stabling, with basic maintenance facilities for the vehicle, will be provided on Coventry University land (as indicated in Appendix 1 to the report) to maintain vehicle performance and protect the vehicle from damage overnight. This will be the subject of a planning application.

 

[EyeKay]

Excellent

 

[djox]

Coventry Council to approve 800m twin track trial of Very Light Rail

Approved by Cabinet and due before Full Council on 13th January.

Route map.

From the Council Report:

Sounds good that they can build longer test route and if they can do by 2027 that seems pretty good going.

The title of the thread is ...... - Awarded to Rail Adventure, are Rail Adventure involved as can't see them mentioned they were invloved in the summer test. Maybe the title can be changed to just Coventry Very Light Rail?

 

[DavidGrain]

djox said
The title of the thread is ...... - Awarded to Rail Adventure, are Rail Adventure involved as can't see them mentioned they were invloved in the summer test. Maybe the title can be changed to just Coventry Very Light Rail?

I think Rail Adventure were just involved in the public facing activities of the public demonstration last year. It was clear to me that the drivers and the people answering the technical questions were a different organisation.

 

[silexa]

djox said
The title of the thread is ...... - Awarded to Rail Adventure, are Rail Adventure involved as can't see them mentioned they were invloved in the summer test. Maybe the title can be changed to just Coventry Very Light Rail?

I think Rail Adventure were just involved in the public facing activities of the public demonstration last year. It was clear to me that the drivers and the people answering the technical questions were a different organisation.

RailAdventure drivers drove the 2025 summer unit testing in Coventry, as well as the unit testing at Dudley when requested.