Engineering consultancy Arup has appointed Tony Gee and Partners as a strategic partner to support the next phase of the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) programme. The collaboration will focus on designing an 800-metre twin-track city centre demonstrator route in Coventry, aimed at testing innovative rail technology that could transform urban transport delivery.
The demonstrator route will operate in live traffic conditions and represents a major step in evaluating the performance, installation methods and operational integration of the CVLR system.
Coventry Demonstrator Route to Test Innovative Rail Technology
The Coventry Very Light Rail programme is designed to provide a rail-based public transport system at less than half the cost and construction time of traditional light rail networks.
Key technological innovations include:
- Battery-powered lightweight vehicles, removing the need for overhead power lines
- Shallow track installation, placed approximately 30 cm beneath the road surface
- Reduced need to divert underground utilities, helping minimise construction disruption
These design features are intended to shorten construction schedules while significantly reducing installation costs compared with conventional tram systems.
Strategic Collaboration for the CVLR Programme
The partnership between Arup and Tony Gee and Partners will support detailed design development across several engineering disciplines, including:
- civil engineering
- track infrastructure
- systems integration
- urban realm interfaces
Paul Stephens, Project Director and Associate Director at Arup UKIMEA, said the demonstrator route will provide an important real-world testing environment.
“Arup’s work on the demonstrator route offers a valuable testbed for understanding how innovative transport technology performs within a complex city centre environment.”
Stephens added that collaboration with Tony Gee and Coventry City Council will help deliver an operational system capable of integrating with the city’s existing infrastructure while generating evidence for future expansion.
A Step Toward Cleaner Urban Transport
City officials believe the project could play a key role in delivering a more sustainable transport network in Coventry.
Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change at Coventry City Council, said the approval of the new demonstrator route marks a significant milestone.
“This is a bold investment in cleaner, smarter and more sustainable transport. The route to Coventry University’s Technology Park will allow us to showcase the benefits of CVLR in a live environment.”
The initiative aims to:
- improve urban air quality
- reduce traffic congestion
- expand access to employment and education opportunities
- provide an affordable public transport alternative
Demonstrator Route to Support Future Expansion
The city centre demonstrator will generate critical data on construction methods, operational performance and system reliability. This information will help shape the business case for Coventry’s first commercial CVLR route and future network expansion.
David Lea, Project Director at Tony Gee and Partners in Birmingham, said the project represents a major step toward sustainable urban mobility.
“We are proud to support a solution that will bring cleaner, smarter and more efficient mobility to the city.”
Project Timeline and Funding
The demonstrator route is funded through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) programme and is scheduled for completion by summer 2027.
If successful, the Coventry Very Light Rail system could become a scalable model for cost-effective light rail transport in cities across the United Kingdom.
