Town could lead way as ‘very light rail’ test bed
PLANS to create a multimillionpound innovation hub which will lead the development of ‘very light rail’ (VLR) technology have been revealed.
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, working in partnership with Warwick Manufacturing Group, has submitted the plans to create a £29 million very light rail innovation centre.
The proposals include a pedestrian foot bridge which links the building to Tipton Road, the future Midland Metro line and car parking.
The council said the innovation centre would be at the heart of revolutionising very light rail technology and see Dudley leading the way globally.
The new building will include a large engineering workshop and 1.2mile twin test tracks along disused railway lines which will include test platforms.
Research at the hub will investi- gate ways to reduce the weight and cost of rail cars and track, enabling the creation of lower-cost connections between suburban and rural areas and providing a cheaper alternative to heavy rail and traditional metro urban transport systems.
Councillor Ian Kettle, cabinet member for planning and economic development, said: “This is one of the most exciting regeneration projects to take place in Dudley.
“If given the go ahead, the innovation hub will put Dudley at the forefront of the world’s development of very light rail technology.
“We will be able to market this as a product worldwide and significantly boost our opportunities to strengthen and grow our local economy.”
The planning application will be assessed in the spring. A separate application for the test track was submitted to the council’s planning department at the end of October and is waiting to be determined.
The council was recently awarded £18 million by the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership towards the cost of the project.