Coventry Very Light Rail

Pioneering research at WMG has enabled the development of Coventry’s Very Light Rail (CVLR): an affordable, efficient and sustainable solution to urban transport challenges, laying the tracks for global adoption.

Conventional light rail costs over £50m per kilometre (km) and WMG helped Coventry City Council reach its £10m per km target, an 80% cost saving delivering a transformative transport option for the city.

WMG led vehicle and track design, developing a battery-powered, autonomous-ready shuttle and an ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete track slab that avoids deep excavation and preserves underground utilities. Working with local supply chains, WMG helped establish demonstration sites and a 2.2km test track replicating Coventry’s tight city-centre curves, achieving rapid installation and charging.

WMG’s innovation has enabled major cost savings, reduced disruption and proved how light rail can be deployed quickly and affordably worldwide. CVLR now stands as a global blueprint for low-emission urban transport.