Arup has appointed Tony Gee as a strategic partner to help with the design of the next demonstrator line for Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR). This 800 metre line will be twin track and for the first time will see the CVLR vehicle run alongside other traffic.
Paul Stephens, Project Director and Associate Director at Arup UKIMEA, said: “Arup’s work on the demonstrator route offers a valuable testbed for understanding how innovative transport technology performs within a complex city centre environment.
“Through our collaboration with Tony Gee and Coventry City Council, we are combining multidisciplinary strengths to accomplish an operational system that functions effectively within the city’s existing infrastructure and presents the evidence required for future expansion.”
As we’ve seen before in mention of the CVLR (and indeed the general concept of Very Light Rail), the aim of the project is to offer a lower cost alternative to rail-based public transport in areas which can’t justify the significant outlay for a full-on tram and light rail system.
This new demonstrator line – due to be up and running in 2027 – will also support the development of future routes by supplying data on constructability, installation methods and operational performance. It will also contribute towards the business case for the planned first commercial CVLR route.
Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Coventry City Council Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, said: “By approving this next and longer demonstrator route for Coventry Very Light Rail, we have taken a decisive step toward transforming how people move around our city. This is a bold investment in cleaner, smarter and more sustainable transport, and it shows our commitment to delivering real change for residents and businesses.
“The route to Coventry University’s Technology Park will allow us to showcase the benefits of CVLR in a live environment, proving how this innovative system can be delivered quickly, affordably and with minimal disruption. It’s an exciting moment for Coventry, and brings us significantly closer to a transport network that reflects the ambition and ingenuity of our city.”
David Lea, Tony Gee Project Director and Associate Director for Birmingham, said: “We are privileged to be part of a project which represents a major step forward in sustainable urban transport, and we’re proud to support a solution that will bring cleaner, smarter, and more efficient mobility to the city. Working collaboratively with our partners Arup and Coventry City Council, we’re committed to helping deliver a system that sets a new benchmark for innovation in the UK transport sector.”
Funding for the demonstration line is coming from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement.