The Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) vehicle, track and a first-of-a-kind CVLR simulator will be showcased as part of Coventry’s Motofest celebrations between Friday 2 June and Sunday 4 June.
For the first time, the public will be able to get on the zero emission, battery-powered CVLR vehicle and explore its interior. Experts will be on hand to explain its key features and innovations. Motofest visitors will also be able to take to the controls – on a state-of-the-art simulator which features three screens for a near perfect view of the first city centre demonstrator route.
The simulator will be used to train drivers as well as for research and development purposes at the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre in Dudley.
Coventry’s Very Light rail vehicle and innovative track have been designed to drive down installation costs. Its battery means no overhead lines will be required in Coventry’s historic streets, while it’s innovative turning mechanism means it can turn much tighter corners than most existing trams, so it is easily retrofitted to existing roads. Innovations in the track design will also cut installation costs.
Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, said: “Motofest is a brilliant celebration of Coventry’s automotive past, present and future. So it’s incredibly exciting that for the first time people will be able to get on board the Coventry Very Light Rail vehicle, which has made use of Coventry’s automotive expertise to make it more affordable to install for smaller and medium-sized cities and towns.
“Coventry Very Light Rail is just one part of the Council’s climate change strategy, putting our city at the forefront of the green industrial revolution. Not only will we be the UK’s first all-electric bus city by 2025, but we’ve also installed more electric vehicle charge points than any city outside London. And we’re not stopping there – we’re committed to opening more high-quality segregated cycle lanes and planting over 300,000 trees and we have lots of other initiatives that we are developing with our partners.
“These innovations will help to address climate change – but the green industrial revolution is also about the jobs of the future – jobs we want for local people right here in our city.
“I hope people will enjoy the chance to see the vehicle on the road as it would be when it proves the technology in the city centre – its slick and impressive, accessible and of course it will run quietly with zero emissions.”
This is the first time the CVLR driver simulator will visit Coventry, showcasing a 3D model of the ‘City Demonstrator’ route, a planned short section of track from Coventry Railway Station to Pool Meadow Bus Station.
Neil Fulton, chief executive officer of the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO), said: “This is a great opportunity to showcase the Transport Systems Simulator, part of our investment into making sure BCIMO is a world-class hub for transport innovation. While it’s designed to be accessible for driver training, we’re also going to be offering this as a facility for our research partners to allow them to do cutting-edge work on Very Light Rail and other transport systems.
“The transport systems simulator is a key part of our strategy to be a national hub for Rail innovation, driving forward transport innovation and supporting transport modes that combat climate change. I look forward to seeing the simulator in action at Motofest and, in the future, helping us train the first generation of Very Light Rail drivers and how these vehicles integrate into the broader transport network.”
James Noble, MotoFest Coventry Festival Director, said: “We are very excited to host the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) vehicle, track and a first-of-a-kind CVLR simulator and give huge thanks to Coventry City Council for providing the opportunity for MotoFest visitors to see and experience it for the first time.
“As a result of MotoFest Coventry’s event partnership with E.ON Drive and Coventry City Council, we are in an incredibly strong position to showcase the best in sustainable transport, low carbon motoring and advanced automotive and electric vehicle technology, with the CVLR among the highlights of the exhibits on display.
“The CVLR will be at the heart of our new Future Technology Zone featuring a range of EV and alternatively fuelled vehicles on display, autonomous vehicle demonstration runs and drone displays – all of which are set to provide an electrifying spectacle across the festival weekend.”
Nearby, the CVLR track will be available to view. Experts from WMG at the University of Warwick will be on hand to explain why it makes Coventry Very Light Rail so much more affordable to install.
The CVLR vehicle and track will be located on the off-ramp from junction six of the Coventry Ring Road, while the simulator will be found on the ring road overpass.