Latest news with #VeryLightRail
Metro
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Metro
Inside UK's new £189,000,000 revolutionary ‘very light' transport system
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The motor capital of the UK has received a transport makeover – and it's already going to be expanded. Coventry has spearheaded the Very Light Rail network, which has been described as being like a tram, but better. The vehicles, which can carry 60 passengers, are cheaper and more flexible than traditional railways, and passengers started using the vehicles last month. But it's now been announced that the project, currently in use on two streets in the city centre, is set to be expanded to six new areas. The Department for Transport has released £12million to expand the project into 'growth areas' across the city, including the Coventry Gigafactory at Coventry Airport. Speaking to CoventryLive, Cllr Jim 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.' The transport system, currently in place along Queen Victoria Road and Greyfriars Road, could also expand to Coventry Railway Station, University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, Antsy Park, the University of Warwick, and Coventry University. The expansion should be completed by the end of next year, and it's hoped this will bring new jobs to the city centre. Local father and son Graham and Joe Dibbins are train drivers at RailAdventure UK and were among the first to drive the new vehicles. Graham said: 'It's an extraordinary feeling to be involved in such an innovative project and at the same time to be working with my son for the first time in a professional capacity as train drivers.' Joe added: 'It seems unbelievable that I am working with the one person I respect more than anyone else – my dad. The fact that Coventry Very Light Rail is so technologically advanced is simply the icing on the cake.' Cllr O'Boyle, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change at the city council, said the 'green' CVLR system will 'revolutionise transport in Coventry.' He said: 'Very Light Rail is just the beginning of our plans to revolutionise transport in our city, tackle climate change, improve air quality, and provide a reliable and accessible travel option.' The cost of construction is the first thing that sets it apart from traditional trams. The estimated cost per kilometre (0.6 miles) is £10million, compared to £30million for the same distance for tram tracks. The new track sits just under 11 inches (30cm) within the road surface, minimising expensive and time-consuming works to relocate pipes and cables. The VLR system is powered by batteries, meaning that, unlike trams, there is no need for overhead wires. The electric, very light rail system has been touted as a way to bring disused railway lines back into action. There are no definite plans to build ultra-light rail systems in London, but TfL and the London Assembly have discussed and reviewed the option over the years. Major rail operators are said to have shown interest in the very light rail systems, and further trials are planned to start in 2026. In London, the closest to the new train system is the tram network, which still runs across the southern boroughs. The history of London trams goes back to more than 200 years, but there were times it almost disappeared for good. The very light rail bears some similarity to the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), a driverless train operating in London since the 1980s on a 24-mile track. DLR is a light metro train, which uses purpose-built tracks, which run mostly outdoors, connecting Canary Wharf, the City, Stratford, Lewisham and Woolwich. Whereas very light rail uses batteries, the DLR gets its power from a bottom-contact third rail system underneath the train. Self-driving vehicles are expected to be on the UK roads by 2026, the government has said, opening the door for more autonomous rail systems. More Trending The Coventry very light rail has been developed to allow autonomous operation in the future. Pedestrians, cyclists and disabled passengers will have 'sufficient provision' on the new routes when they open, the council confirmed. A version of this article was first published on May 7, 2025 Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Inside the new £2,500,000,000 Leeds tram system with airport connection MORE: Donald Trump's travel ban doesn't make sense – here's why MORE: Double decker bus roof ripped off after crashing into railway bridge in South Norwood
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
First VLR route could be running by 2027
The first Very Light Rail (VLR) route in Coventry could be running by 2027, a councillor has said. A 220m (725ft) trial track of the new technology welcomed its first members of the public for a special test ride on Queen Victoria Road in the city centre on Thursday. Councillor Jim O'Boyle, from Coventry City Council, said VLR was a "cost-effective" alternative to other transport that could make a difference to local people. He told the BBC the Department for Transport (DfT) had released a further £12m of funding, in order to extend the current test track out towards the technology park in Parkside. "Eventually this will form part of a route," O'Boyle said of the test track. "Because we've already identified four routes in the city from the hospital, from the university, from the investment zone, up at Coventry Airport and of course the wider urban extension out on the A45," he explained. The VLR system uses lightweight battery-operated cars and has been billed as a cheaper and faster-to-build alternative to traditional trams. O'Boyle said extending the route out even further would require further investment and once the service had been proven, the authority would be looking for private investment in the system. "Fortunately, the Department for Transport last week released a further £12m of money in order to take the demonstrator track out towards the Parkside area of the city," he said. "And that means we can then further demonstrate how the vehicle works in a real-life environment and eventually we aim to have a track system... in the city, the first route by 2027." "Everyone knows and you'll see it, that it actually works," he said. Passengers who rode the test track after booking free tickets from the city council said it could prove to be a great way to get around the Coventry. One man told the BBC it was a "very short trial" but he had enjoyed it, adding it was a "smooth" journey with "decent acceleration". "I have a disability so I love the fact that everything's smooth and level and plenty of space to move around," another woman said. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Could driverless trams come to your town or city? Rail system's first route could be to airport zone New rail system moves towards on-road tests Very Light Rail faces delays after bid rejected Coventry City Council
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
First VLR route in Coventry could be running by 2027
The first Very Light Rail (VLR) route in Coventry could be running by 2027, a councillor has said.A 220m (725ft) trial track of the new technology welcomed its first members of the public for a special test ride on Queen Victoria Road in the city centre on Jim O'Boyle, from Coventry City Council, said VLR was a "cost-effective" alternative to other transport that could make a difference to local told the BBC the Department for Transport (DfT) had released a further £12m of funding, in order to extend the current test track out towards the technology park in Parkside. "Eventually this will form part of a route," O'Boyle said of the test track."Because we've already identified four routes in the city from the hospital, from the university, from the investment zone, up at Coventry Airport and of course the wider urban extension out on the A45," he VLR system uses lightweight battery-operated cars and has been billed as a cheaper and faster-to-build alternative to traditional trams.O'Boyle said extending the route out even further would require further investment and once the service had been proven, the authority would be looking for private investment in the system."Fortunately, the Department for Transport last week released a further £12m of money in order to take the demonstrator track out towards the Parkside area of the city," he said."And that means we can then further demonstrate how the vehicle works in a real-life environment and eventually we aim to have a track system... in the city, the first route by 2027.""Everyone knows and you'll see it, that it actually works," he who rode the test track after booking free tickets from the city council said it could prove to be a great way to get around the man told the BBC it was a "very short trial" but he had enjoyed it, adding it was a "smooth" journey with "decent acceleration"."I have a disability so I love the fact that everything's smooth and level and plenty of space to move around," another woman said. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Metro
07-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
Inside the new £189,000,000 futuristic 'very light' transport system
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A city dubbed the UK's 'motor capital' is about to change when a new £189,000,000 light train system launches. The Coventry Very Light Rail network, labelled 'like tram but better,' is one step closer to opening in the city, which is not usually known for its public transport provision. First of its kind in the country, one battery-powered very light rail train can whisk around 60 passengers when the system fully opens. The system has been labelled cheaper and more flexible than traditional railways. While the final route has not been confirmed yet, people now have a chance to test it out themselves to see what the fuss is about. A local father-and-son train driver team from RailAdventure UK will operate the test service on a 721-foot track. Dad Graham Dibbins said it is 'an extraordinary feeling to be involved in such an innovative project and at the same time to be working with my son for the first time in a professional capacity as train drivers.' His son Joe Dibbins said he can't believe he is 'working with the one person I respect more than anyone else – my dad.' The on-road tests, able to carry 17 passengers in one go, will run in Coventry city centre for a limited time only in May and June. If you want to give it a go, book your free place here. Councillor Jim O'Boyle, a cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change at the council, said the 'green' CVLR system will 'revolutionise transport in Coventry.' He continued: 'Very Light Rail is just the beginning of our plans to revolutionise transport in our city, tackle climate change, improve air quality, and provide a reliable and accessible travel option. 'We will be running Very Light Rail for four weeks, and residents will have the opportunity to experience this one-of-a-kind vehicle and track system and provide feedback on the experience.' The cost of construction is the first thing that sets it apart from the OG railways. Although the new system is more affordable to build than laying traditional tram or train tracks, it is still not cheap. The estimated cost per one kilometre (0.6 miles) is £10,000,000, while a traditional tram can cost up to £30,000,000 to install for the same distance. The new track sits just under 11 inches (30cm) within the road surface, minimising expensive and time-consuming works to relocate pipes and cables, the council said. The VLR system is powered by batteries, meaning that, unlike trams, there is no need for overhead wires. The electric, very light rail system has been touted as a way to bring disused railway lines back into action. There are no definite plans to build ultra-light rail systems in London, but TfL and the London Assembly have discussed and reviewed the option over the years. Major rail operators are said to have shown interest in the very light rail systems, and further trials are planned to start in 2026. In London, the closest to the new train system is the tram network, which still runs across the southern boroughs. The history of London trams goes back to more than 200 years, but there were times it almost disappeared for good. Self-driving vehicles are expected to be on the UK roads by 2026, the government has said, opening the door for more autonomous rail systems. More Trending The Coventry very light rail has been developed to allow autonomous operation in the future. Pedestrians, cyclists and disabled passengers will have 'sufficient provision' on the new routes when they open, the council confirmed. Money for the £189,000,000 system comes from the UK government, the West Midlands combined authority, the Coventry and Warwickshire local enterprise partnership and the council. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Major travel requirement change you need to fly across US comes into effect today MORE: Commuters are saying the same thing about this 'terrible' Avanti trains feature MORE: This is what happens when someone dies on a cruise ship
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Coventry Very Light Railway: Passengers invited to try new system
People can have a go on Coventry's Very Light Rail system after bookings opened for a free ride on the test rides are taking place over four weeks from the end of May and passengers will be able to travel along a 220m (241yds) stretch between Greyfriars Road and Queen Victoria Road, the city council will be the first chance for people to experience travelling on the battery-powered vehicle, the council test vehicle can take up to 17 seated passengers and there is space for a wheelchair or pushchair. Once the system is operational, the vehicle will be able to hold 60 passengers, seated and standing. The council has described the system as like a tram but more flexible and affordable than a tram - and an alternative to Jim O'Boyle said: "Coventry Very Light Rail is just one part of our plans to revolutionise transport in our city, tackle climate change, improve air quality and provide a new reliable and accessible travel option."The free rides have been organised so people can provide feedback on the experience, the authority said with bookings able to be made online. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
