Coventry Very Light Rail vehicle

The Coventry Very Light Rail vehicle (CVLR) has been designed to meet the transportation needs of Coventry and similarly sized cities, while boosting jobs and investment in Coventry, the region, and around the UK.

A key motivation for the project is to make urban light rail more affordable to install, thereby increasing its availability throughout the UK and internationally.

This page sets out the key features and motivations behind the CVLR vehicle.

Fighting climate change and addressing air quality

As part of our climate change and transportation strategies, we are working to provide options for public transportation that combat climate change and improve air quality.

The CVLR vehicle is battery-powered, meaning it produces zero emissions at the point of use. In addition, its use of regenerative breaks minimises brake dust, and its use of steel wheels on steel track means tyre dust is eliminated. By providing an attractive alternative to the car, CVLR can significantly improve Coventry’s air quality.

The CVLR vehicle’s regenerative brake system is a collaboration with AP Racing, a Coventry-based company.

Less disruption for businesses and residents

Most trams currently on the market require the surrounding city to change during installation. A key goal of the CVLR project has been to create a vehicle that can run on existing roads, minimising the need for demolition and compulsory purchases.

Two key features help the vehicle achieve this – its innovative turning mechanism, known as its ‘bogey’, and its onboard battery.

The Council tasked WMG at the University of Warwick and Transport Design International to create a new kind of bogey that allows the CVLR vehicle to turn 15-metre radius curves. The vehicle has been demonstrated to achieve this at the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre in Dudley, while maintaining a quiet operation.

The CVLR vehicle’s ability to turn 15-metre radius curves means that in most places, track could be laid in the existing road, minimising the need to change road layouts. And because the CVLR vehicle is battery-powered, it doesn’t need overhead infrastructure along the main route. This will reduce installation costs and reduce the visual impact of the system.

The vehicle utilises opportunity charging. At key sites along the routes, the vehicle can make a brief stop to recharge a small amount using an overhead electric charger, thereby extending its battery life.

Investing in Coventry and the West Midlands

Many tram systems throughout the UK utilise trams imported from outside the UK. The Council identified the production of CVLR vehicles as a key opportunity to invest in industry in Coventry, the West Midlands and the wider UK.

The CVLR vehicle was developed in collaboration with WMG at the University of Warwick. It was manufactured in Coventry at NP Aerospace and has been tested at the Very Light Rail Innovation Centre in Dudley.

Approximately 44% of the money spent on materials and components was allocated to the Midlands, with 28% spent in the rest of the UK.

Lower operating costs

Operating costs account for a significant portion of ticket prices for passengers. This can make providing passenger services challenging in areas with low population density.

The Council has been working with WMG at the University of Warwick on plans to integrate autonomous operation technology into the CVLR vehicle.

The Council is also urging the Government to legislate for the autonomous operation of light rail and to provide a framework for local authorities on the testing requirements for these systems.

Researchers from the University of Warwick believe that introducing autonomy in a rail-based system, such as CVLR, will be simpler than introducing autonomy in cars, as it will be restricted to the rails and the environment can be mapped.