TRAMendous return of city favourite
DRIVERLESS ‘VERY LIGHT RAIL’ COULD SOON BE ON STREETS OF COVENTRY
TRAMS could soon be seen on Coventry’s streets for the first time since 1940.
Once a familiar sight in places like Broadgate and the Burges, the Coventry Blitz put an end to the city’s tram services.
But a tramway – also known as a ‘very light railway’ – could once again be transporting people around the city as part of an ambitious plan being developed by the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at the University of Warwick.
The plan envisaged under the £6m research and development project is to connect the city using state-of-the-art, lightweight, battery-operated, driverless rail vehicles on a low cost track.
One of the routes could be to link the city to the proposed HS2 interchange by Birmingham Airport.
Researchers have shared their ambitious vision with councillors this week. Unlike conventional trams, using battery-powered vehicles means there would be no need for the type of overhead cables seen in the pre-war years.
WMG and Warwick’s School of Engineering are also developing a novel track solution for the system, which will be lightweight, low cost and easily embedded into roads.
The system would also be designed and built in the UK, meaning major cost savings.
Trams currently operating in the UK are imported and expensive (around £3m per tram) but the WMG project aims to create a UK supply chain for manufacturing lightweight rail vehicles and tracks, making such travel more affordable.
WMG says it hopes to have its first demonstrator vehicle built and ready for testing by spring 2019.
The rail vehicles being developed by WMG will have the capability to operate autonomously without a driver, which will reduce the operational costs. Funding for the scheme is coming from the Government’s Midlands Growth Fund.
Prof Lord Bhattacharyya, chairman of WMG, said: “Delivering research and innovation for the creation of technological solutions and the expansion of British manufacturing has always been at the heart of WMG.
“I am delighted that Coventry is adopting this cutting-edge very light rail technology, which will benefit the city and will set a new trend for urban public transport.”
Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Coventry City Council’s cabinet member for jobs and regeneration, said: “Very light rail will be quicker and cheaper to build and run than any of the tram systems currently operating in the UK.
“The track will be easier and quicker to lay and in the future, the system will be able to operate without drivers.
“This means it will be able to be really frequent – a real hop on, hop off service, which will help to take cars off our roads.”