Coventry Very Light Rail is a new, affordable rail-based transportation system that can be delivered at less than half the cost and in half the time of conventional light rail systems.
Coventry City Council is leading the project, which will provide a new urban transport system that could be replicated across the UK and the globe. CVLR is different to conventional tram systems thanks to its ground-breaking track system, which means it can be laid over most utilities. This makes it quicker and cheaper to lay.
The vehicle can navigate 15-metre radius turns, making it a new and innovative solution for smaller cities and towns. Battery-powered and featuring no unsightly overhead cables, the system, which can carry 60 passengers, will also be able to run autonomously, offering a hop-on-hop-off, environmentally friendly transport solution.
Beyond its transport potential, CVLR is also helping to drive the UK’s green industrial revolution. While most light rail systems in the UK rely on vehicles from overseas, CVLR is proudly designed and built in Coventry and the wider region, drawing on the existing manufacturing skills. It will continue to be built in the UK with a skills-based supply chain that will create jobs for local people.
CVLR is being funded by a number of partners: the West Midlands Combined Authority, the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership the Council, and the project is part of Coventry's bid to the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement.
A recent milestone included the installation of a 220-metre track, which was laid in the city centre of Coventry in just eight weeks, a timeframe unmatched anywhere in the world. Over six weeks, the public was invited to experience the future of urban transport first-hand, booking test rides and providing feedback.
Cllr Jim O'Boyle, Cabinet member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, said: "The Coventry Very Light Rail rides were a huge success. The track, which is the star of the show, was laid in just eight weeks, and over 3,000 people had a ride, with the feedback being really positive.
"Residents particularly liked how quiet, smooth and fast it was, as well as being pleased that it was pioneered from the innovation and green engineering skills of the city and wider West Midlands.
"CVLR is just one part of our plans to revolutionise transport in our city, tackle climate change, improve air quality, while providing a new, reliable and accessible travel option.
"Now that the vehicle is off-site, we will be working with utilities and monitoring the track, which will stay in place.
“Work has also started on the next stage, which will see us lay an 800-metre section from the railway station to the University Technology Park on Puma Way. This will enable us to show how the vehicle can run in a live traffic environment. We expect to start constructing this longer section in 2026.
"Of course, the huge news is that as part of the £2.4 billion pledged by Rachel Reeves for transport schemes in the West Midlands, there is cash identified explicitly for the first CVLR route from the city centre to the investment zone. Not only can we be on the ground delivering, but we will also be connecting to an employment site with huge potential. It’s a win-win.
“As cities around the world look for cleaner, smarter, and more cost-effective ways to transport people, Coventry’s home-grown CVLR system could soon be leading the way.”