Wednesday 28th May 2025 should have been an important day for the development of Very Light Rail (VLR) as it was due to have been the first time that the Coventry demonstration line would welcome passengers. Unfortunately, slight delays in getting ready meant that a couple of planned dates have been cancelled (and replaced with additional dates later on in the period – also now sold out) including the first day, although it still saw the vehicle being tested.
The Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) project is due to test the concept of VLR in an on-street environment. A 220 metre long demonstration line has been constructed which starts at Greyfriars Road, just a 5 minute walk from Coventry Railway Station. It then takes a curve to another straight section of line along Queen Victoria Road.
The main purpose of VLR is that it cuts costs in comparison with conventional tram/light rail systems. This is partly because of the innovative modular track which is being used for the first time in an urban corridor (track which doesn’t require deep excavations to be made or for utilities to be diverted away), but also because VLR vehicles are cheaper to construct (as well as being much smaller than standard modern trams). The Coventry line has also been built with no overhead as the vehicle is operated using batteries.
Public tests of the line will take place into mid-June on selected dates (all dates have sold out) with the project team seeking to get feedback into the operation, including on the vehicle. Once the tests are over the track will remain in situ with the next period being used to see how it copes with road traffic going over 24 hours a day. As to what will happen to the vehicle, that is not yet known although you can probably put some money on it returning to Dudley.
Coventry City Council have ambitions for a full VLR system in the city. However, this is unfunded and it would rely on money from central government or the West Midlands Combined Authority’s settlement.
The terminus of the line on Greyfriars Road with the vehicle stationary. Alongside is a Wright Eclipse bus being operated by National Express Coventry to give a bit of a comparison in sizes of the two vehicles.
The vehicle heads off on a test run and takes the curve from Greyfriars Road.
Another view of the vehicle during a test run. Its batteries will be charged between trips with a charge point available near the Greyfriars Road terminus. Here its seen passing another charging point – although that one has nothing to do with VLR as its for cars!
There’s no permanent platform during the tests with this temporary ramp and platform being provided. The platform is 350mm high which provides step free access to the vehicle over a narrow gap.
The VLR vehicle again seen between test runs. (All Photographs by Ken Jones, 28th May 2025)
I can’t help but feel there wopuld be a lot more space inside this vehicle if the body didn’t taper in quite so much. Look at the photo with the bus alongside and you’ll see what I mean. I also think it’s going to be very expensive to operate if they have to employ a driver (and possibly some kind of conductor/guard) for such a small number of passengers. Why didn;t they make it one man operated in the same way Blackpool did about 50 years ago?