At TRANSPORT Smart Class, Midlands 2026 we were delighted to welcome back Nicola Small (VLR Programme Director at Coventry City Council, Regional VLR Programme Director at Transport for West Midlands and Non-Executive Board Director for UK Tram) to update us on the progress and challenges in delivering Coventry’s first major Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) demonstration line: an 800-meter, twin-track route from the Railway Station to the University Technology Park.
The Demonstrator is required to prove the technology for future commercial lines, with operation in live traffic expected by October 2027 to coincide with the ITS World Congress, showcasing a quick, affordable, sustainable transport solution. This next-phase demonstrator builds on earlier trials, allowing public rides and testing integration with city traffic, aiming to attract global interest in the council’s home-grown VLR system. It will fill a gap in the public transport market that will integrate with buses and other modes of transport to create a transport system capable of achieving modal shift.
Summary of presentation highlights:
- Partnership – Coventry City Council, Colas Rail, West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), funded by UK Government;
- Coventry VLR Infographic – Zero-emission battery electric vehicle; High-power charging at the end of the line, no overhead equipment; Capacity for 56 people, 20 seated; Lightweight construction; Low lifetime-cost track designed for easy construction and long life; Designed for tight (15m) curves; Regenerative braking; Low-floor for easy entry; All axles driven for maximum traction;
- Traditional Track Systems vs CVLR Track System illustrated;
- CVLR’s is a novel track super-structure system developed from first principles to enable installation within existing urban pavement environments requiring a dig depth of just 30cm;
- CVLR Track System Infographic: (J) Rail-to-Pavement Joint – Fill-blocks and top sealing joint or full depth mastic asphalt joint; (P) Pavement – Full rail-depth flexible asphalt pavement system; (R) Rail – 54G1 Grooved Rail; (F) Fastening System – CVLR-specific variant of the Pandrol SD-Clip fastening; (S) Slab System – Unique Ultra-high-performance concrete slab of just 105mm thickness, 1.7 tonnes, 3m x 2.2m; (B) Bedding Layer – Project specific high-flow bedding layer enables highspeed track installation. Pumped under slab following slab and rail alignment; (F) Foundation – CVLR track system designed to require bearing capacity of just 30MPa (2.3% CBR);
- CVLR Track System enabled by a world-first UHPC Railway slab-track system – Designed for cost, installation and maintenance; 10cm SLAB and Ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC);
- 4 x Pilot Installations successfully delivered over the last 3 years;
- On Road Test Site – 220m single track installation; Prove track installation and removal methodology in a live environment (time and cost); Demonstrate that the slab track does not compromise stats equipment and demonstrate access to utilities; Operate the prototype vehicle in controlled conditions; Provide public rides and gather feedback;
- CVLR System: Enabling a strategic step-change reduction in light rail project delivery timelines – 10 weeks from occupying the highway (13th March 2025) to tram running on tracks (23rd May 2025);
- CVLR Track System: Analysis by Colas Rail on Potential of CVLR track system…
- Cost (£ m / km ) of embedded track in shared-highway urban environment: 6.6 Optimal Scenario and 11.0 Complex Scenario for Coventry VLR Track vs 12.8 Optimal Scenario and 30.7 Complex Scenario for Traditional Urban Embedded Track;
- Construction duration (weeks per km): 14 Optimal Scenario and 28 Complex Scenario for Coventry VLR Track vs 32 Optimal Scenario and 64 Complex Scenario for Traditional Urban Embedded Track;
- Coventry Very Light Rail “On-Road Test”…
- CVLR Track: Proving long-term performance – Ambient loadings, CVLR Loadings, HGVs Loadings > Track Structural Health Monitoring: 64 x high-frequency sensors embedded in the CVLR Track – Strains within the UHPC Slabs, Strains within the Rails, Movement Slabs vs Foundation, Movement of Slab vs Slab, Movement of Slab vs Rail, Pressure transmitted into Foundation, Asphalt pavement strain;
- Utilities access strategy – 1. Soil Displacement Hammer (Moling) 2. Pit-Launched Mini Horizontal Directional Drilling 3. Key-hole Coring 4. Vacuum Excavation;
- Utility access: Keyhole coring and vacuum excavation to access/introduce utilities under track;
- Utility access emergency scenario – full access via track removal;
- Demonstration of rail-replacement;
- CVLR System – Next Stage: ≈ 850 m route, ≈ 1700 m of track; CVLR + Track; Turnouts; Vibration-attenuated CVLR+ Track variant; Ultra-shallow track system variant;
- ITS Route – Transport Hub; Complex urban regeneration; Residential & Commercial; Industrial;
- Coventry Very Light Rail – First full operational route, “Coventry Arc”: 12km twin track; Connecting Railway and Bus Stations in the City Centre to Residential, Retail, Employment and Education.
If you meet our regular delegate qualification criteria but were unable to join us The Old Library, Birmingham, for the live in-person event on February 25th, CLICK HERE and complete the short “Download form” (located at the bottom of the post) to receive a unique link enabling free access to the presentation video recordings and slides (including the film footage and slides from Nicola’s keynote).
Those qualifying to receive the rich presentation content from this event include commissioning, procurement, trialling, partnering and policy leads, senior influencers, strategic decision makers, programme managers and planners from local authorities (e.g. city, borough, metropolitan, district and county councils); public transport operators; regional transport partnerships, sub-regional transport bodies, combined authorities, integrated transport authorities and passenger transport executives; highways authorities and road operators; government and supporting national transport agencies; non-governmental organisations; fleet operators, parking operators, prime contractors etc.
