Very Light Rail Vehicle

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<path d="m 0,0.5 1030.48, 0 22.8,40 16.96,-31.4 16.96,31.4 22.8,-40 20,0" class="divider" stroke="#383838" fill="none" /> </svg> </div> <div class="id7-page-title sr-only"> <h1> Very Light Rail Vehicle </h1> </div> </header> <div class="id7-main-content"> <div class="layout layout-100"> <div class="column-1"><div class="column-1-content"> <div class="hero-component full-width flush-top hero-component--margin-x-3 hero-component--text-color-light hero-component--middle"> <img class="hero-component--backdrop" src="light-rail-header.jpg" alt=""> <div class="hero-component--content"> <div style="padding-left: 0cm;"></div> </div> </div> <div class="container-component"> <h2><b>Coventry is on the road to launching its own tram network – the first since World War II </b></h2> <p><b>Introducing… </b><a href="https://www.coventry.gov.uk/coventry-light-rail/light-rail"><b>Coventry Very Light Rail (VLR)</b></a><b>, a transport solution that provides all the benefits of a conventional tram network, but is significantly lower in cost, electric powered, and produces zero-emissions. Researchers from the University of Warwick’s </b><a href="https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg"><b>WMG</b></a><b>, together with </b><a href="https://transportdesigninternational.com/portfolio/coventry-vlr/"><b>TDi Ltd</b></a><b>, have designed and built the prototype, but what’s next? </b></p> <p>Since launching the project seven years ago, the VLR prototype has made many appearances to the public. The most notable of these was in 2021 when the prototype <a href="https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/coventry_very_light/">toured its future operational home</a> in Coventry, having been completed for its City of Culture 2021 celebrations.</p> <p>Then, in June 2023, it made an exciting appearance at the <a href="https://www.coventrymotofest.com/" style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 1.6rem;">Coventry MotoFest</a>, where people were actually able to step inside the vehicle, which can hold up to 56 people and has seats for 20.</p> <p>Testing of the VLR has recently gained momentum. An innovative test track, which is thinner than the tracks used by existing rail systems and specifically designed to work with the new VLR, has been installed at the council’s Whitley Depot facility. WMG will play an important role in evaluating the performance of this track using test data fed into a digital computer model.</p> <p>A length of track has also been laid here, at The University of Warwick, to test installation. And at the VLR National Innovation Centre in Dudley, the VLR vehicle will be tested on the track for the first time.</p> <p>Coventry is said to be leading the green industrial revolution – not only will it be the first UK all-electric bus city by 2025, but also the first city to launch this revolutionised tram network.</p> <p>Dr Darren Hughes, from WMG, said: “The vehicle has been constructed within Coventry with a reliance on a regional supply chain where possible, showing the strength in depth of local manufacturing. It is a unique vehicle with state-of-the-art technologies including an advanced battery power-train and resilient glazing, making it even safer for public use.”</p> </div> <div class="container-component boxstyle_ box1"> <h2>The sustainability benefits</h2> <ul> <li>The Very Light Rail system is a lightweight battery-powered vehicle, meaning it doesn’t need the traditional overhead tram cables. Installation will be less disruptive to the environment and air-quality, and when it runs it will produce <b>zero emissions.</b></li> <li>With a new sustainable tram network running, there will be less demand for private car journeys and a greater reliance on clean, electric public transport.</li> <li>Alongside the vehicle, a new ultra-thin track is being developed. It can be laid just 30cm deep into road surfaces, reducing construction and the need to divert existing pipes and cables. This will pave the way for future sustainable transport construction.</li> </ul> </div> </div></div> </div> </div> </main> <footer class="id7-page-footer id7-footer-coloured"> <div class="id7-site-footer"> <div class="id7-site-footer-content"> </div> </div> <div class="id7-app-footer"> <div class="id7-logo-bleed"></div> <div class="id7-app-footer-content"> <div id="page-footer-elements" class="nofollow clearfix page-footer-elements"> Page contact: <a id="email-owner-link" href="/sitebuilder2/api/ajax/emailOwner.htm?page=%2Fsustainability%2Fwhat-we-are-doing%2Fcase-studies%2Fvery-light-rail" class="no-print-expand" aria-controls="email-page-owner" title="Send an email to Webeditor" rel="nofollow">Webeditor</a> <br> Last revised: Mon 16 Oct 2023 </div> <div id="email-page-owner" class="hidden"> </div> <div class="id7-footer-utility"> <ul> <li id="powered-by-link"> Powered by <a href="https://warwick.ac.uk/sitebuilder" title="More information about SiteBuilder">Sitebuilder</a> </li> <li id="accessibility-link"><a href="https://warwick.ac.uk/accessibility" title="Accessibility information [0]" accesskey="0">Accessibility</a></li> <li id="cookies-link"><a href="http://warwick.ac.uk/cookies" title="Information about cookies">Cookies</a></li> <li id="copyright-link"><a href="http://warwick.ac.uk/copyright" title="Copyright Statement">© MMXXIV</a></li> <li id="modern-slavery-link"><a href="https://warwick.ac.uk/modernslavery">Modern Slavery Statement</a></li> <li id="privacy-link"><a href="http://warwick.ac.uk/privacy" title="Privacy notice">Privacy</a></li> <li id="terms-link"><a href="http://warwick.ac.uk/terms/general" title="Terms of use">Terms</a></li> </ul> </div> </div>  <div id="university-vacancies-link"> <a class="btn btn-info" href="https://warwick.ac.uk/vacancies">Work with us</a> </div> </div> </footer> </div> <div class="id7-right-border"></div> <aside id="cookie-banner"> <div class="container"> <h2>Let us know you agree to cookies</h2> <form id="cookiePreferenceForm" action="/sitebuilder2/user/cookiepreference?returnTo=%2Fsustainability%2Fwhat-we-are-doing%2Fcase-studies%2Fvery-light-rail%2F" method="POST"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-12 col-md-4"> <p class="cookie-description">We use cookies to give you the best online experience. 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Very Light Rail Vehicle