Coventry City Council has opened online bookings for members of the public to test ride the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) system for the first time.
The free rides will take place on a 220-metre demonstration track in the city centre between late May and the end of June.
Coventry Very Light Rail is being developed as a lower-cost, flexible alternative to traditional light rail systems. The project combines locally sourced automotive and rail expertise to create a new form of urban transport, featuring lightweight vehicles and an innovative track system installed within 30 centimetres of the road’s surface.
The prototype vehicle accommodates up to 17 seated passengers, with additional space for a wheelchair or pushchair. During the test phase, passengers will be able to experience the vehicle in operation and provide feedback to help inform the system’s ongoing development. The full version of the vehicle is designed to carry up to 60 people, including standing passengers.
The CVLR demonstration track was constructed in under eight weeks, providing an opportunity to assess the speed and cost-efficiency of the installation process. The system runs without overhead cables, with all propulsion provided by onboard batteries.
Councillor Jim O'Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration, and Climate Change at Coventry City Council, said:I’m really pleased that people now have the chance to get on and take a ride on our new system. It will run on tracks that were laid in just 8 weeks – proving what we said about speed and cost of this system, and it is of course developed and built here thanks to the skills we have in this city in manufacturing.
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.
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.
I look forward to travelling in our vehicle on our track in our city and I hope lots of people sign up to experience it for themselves too.
The CVLR project is supported by the Department for Transport through the West Midlands City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement.
Bookings for the test rides can be made at: www.coventry.gov.uk/VLRRoadTest.
