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Video: Coventry Very Light Rail vehicle passes track test

The [1] [2] (CVLR) project has successfully run a vehicle on its test track in Dudley.

The project aims to develop an urban rapid passenger transport system using battery-powered vehicles and an innovative thin track system, which can be installed more easily and cheaply than current light rail and tram systems.

The thinner track can be laid just thirty centimetres deep into the road surface. This reduces the need to divert pipes and cables, which is a costly and time-consuming part of light rail installation.

To accurately represent and test city landscapes, the test track includes a 250m vertical hump and a tight curve. Features such as these present a challenge to traditional slab track constructions and contribute to the time and cost of installation.[embedded content]

The test track also includes instrumentation to monitor vibration, sound and stresses produced by the vehicle. This will demonstrate how the track form and CVLR vehicle operate together to reduce vibration and sound compared to standard tram systems.

The Coventry VLR project has been developed by West [3] organisations including Coventry City Council, Transport for [4] (TfWM), and WMG at the University of Warwick. Also involved is the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO), the company formed to open and operate the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre (VLRNIC) in Dudley where the tests have been taking place.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and Cllr Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council checking the new CVLR tram on track at the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and Cllr Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council checking the new CVLR tram on track at the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre // Credit: WMCA

The project has received £40m funding from the £1.05 billion City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), which the [5] awarded to the [6] (WMCA).

Ingerop / Rendel worked with WMG to design the track slab, which was laid by Galliford Try. Laying the track took just a few weeks, illustrating that the simplicity of the design can reduce construction time and costs.

The VLRNIC is also partly funded through CRCRSTS, and is a key element in developing CVLR. It provides engineering support in an environment where new technologies can be developed and tested robustly and safely before being implemented in city streets. Engineers are working towards a real-world demonstration of Very Light Rail on the streets of Coventry city centre[7].

Testing underway at the VLRNIC in Dudley
Testing underway at the VLRNIC in Dudley // Credit: TfWM

Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Coventry City Council’s cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, observed the test at the VLRNIC and said, “It was fantastic to see the vehicle running on its track for the very first time. This track is crucial to our vision and this successful test is a big milestone for the project.

“The track is unique; it’s specifically designed to be installed more quickly and more easily than the tracks used by other light rail systems.

“This test will also show that our vehicle is able to run on tight corners and up and down hills – it’s this that will enable it to run in smaller and medium sized cities. But there is no reason a traditional tram couldn’t run on it too – making delivery of trams more affordable.

“Coventry Very Light Rail is pioneering – with the potential to create new jobs and tackle climate change by providing people with a zero-emission mode of travel.

“This is Coventry doing what it does best. We led the industrial revolution here in Coventry and now, with fantastic projects like this, we are leading the green industrial revolution too.”

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, visited the test track to view progress, and said: “By investing in – and supporting the development of – Very Light Rail in Coventry and Dudley, we’re placing our region right at the forefront of what is a tremendously innovative technology.

“It’s yet another wonderful example of the industry and ingenuity for which the West Midlands is deservedly known. I look forward to seeing this technology progress from the workshop to real world application in the months and years ahead.

“As VLR picks up pace, we’ll be able to further reduce traffic congestion and improve our air quality – offering a convenient and sustainable transport option for local people to enjoy.”

Cllr Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said: “This is an important milestone on this site and I am delighted to see the first tests taking place. This is a very important aspect of our wider £1 billion regeneration story that is really gathering speed.”

Neil Fulton, chief executive of BCIMO, said: “This project is a great example of BCIMO’s ability to support the development of innovative technologies in a controlled environment using our unique, rail test facilities – and it highlights the huge benefits of effective collaboration.”

Jamie Missenden, regional manager with Galiford Try, added: “Having experience of light rail construction previously, the opportunity to play a part in creating an innovative system like this provided us with the chance to see how these complex infrastructure systems could be installed with significant risk and cost savings.

“With the test track now completed, we are proud of the work we have completed with partners and have been impressed by the speed of the installation of the track. In our view, this system offers significant benefits and added value to that of the more traditional light rail installation and construction process.”

References

  1. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  2. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  3. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  4. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  5. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  6. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  7. ^ real-world demonstration of Very Light Rail on the streets of Coventry city centre (www.railadvent.co.uk)

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