Eversholt Rail has ordered three Revolution Very Light Rail (RVLR) vehicles from Transport Design International (TDI) to be used in passenger trials and service.
The new lightweight passenger trains will be powered by battery-only propulsion and will use a new system of lineside fast charging for zero-emission operation.
They are expected to be operational within the next three years.
Under this contract, rolling stock company, Eversholt Rail is funding the build of three new Pre-Series RVLR vehicles.
The trains will be built in the Midlands, UK by TDI. Assembly is set to commence in 2024 and the first vehicle will be ready for passenger operation in 2026 thanks to the RVLR’s modular design.
“This substantial further investment by Eversholt Rail demonstrates our commitment to delivering innovative, sustainable and attractive new rail products for the UK market. We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Transport Design International.”
This order follows successful RVLR Demonstrator trials and testing in Ironbridge and represents the next major step towards series production.
Eversholt Rail and TDI are now working with key stakeholders to agree on routes and services where operators will be able to run passenger-carrying trials with the new vehicles.
These trials will collect passenger demand data to support business cases for the long-term deployment of RVLR vehicles. They will also provide passenger and operator feedback on the design and capabilities of the trains.
“This joint investment is fantastic news for RVLR, and we are looking forward to working with Eversholt Rail to deliver this groundbreaking product that will modernise lower-density parts of the UK rail network with an environmentally sustainable and economic solution.
“TDI is investing in a new manufacturing facility for these vehicles, and as part of this programme we are developing our in-service charging technology, an essential for battery-only operations.”
