clint van damme
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Trams could make comeback in Coventry - for first time since WW2
Trams could soon be back on Coventry's streets for first time since World War Two
A futuristic 'very light railway' system is being developed by the University of Warwick
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.
As first reported last year, one of the routes could be to link the city to the proposed HS2 interchange by Birmingham Airport.
Now researchers are set to share their ambitious vision with councillors today.
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.
West Midlands transport chiefs back £3.4bn improvement plans - what Coventry can expect
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 low cost light railway system could be adopted further afield too, as it would local authorities to install new community transport services and reduce congestion more easily.
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.
Warwick Manufacturing Group
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.”
It is planned that the first demonstrator vehicle will be tested at the soon-to-be-built Hub to Home Transport Innovation Centre in Dudley.
Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Coventry City Council’s cabinet member for jobs and regeneration, said: “This kind of innovation is what WMG, Warwick University and in fact Coventry do best and it’s really good to think that our city is at the very front of new advances in transport.
“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 – important when traffic is growing rapidly and economic success relies on keeping people moving.”
Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership
Jonathan Browning, chairman of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP), said: “This is an exciting project which underlines Coventry and Warwickshire’s innovative reputation in playing a leading role in the next generation of transport.”
Trams could soon be back on Coventry's streets for first time since World War Two
A futuristic 'very light railway' system is being developed by the University of Warwick
- 05:00, 28 SEP 2017
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.
As first reported last year, one of the routes could be to link the city to the proposed HS2 interchange by Birmingham Airport.
Now researchers are set to share their ambitious vision with councillors today.
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.
West Midlands transport chiefs back £3.4bn improvement plans - what Coventry can expect
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 low cost light railway system could be adopted further afield too, as it would local authorities to install new community transport services and reduce congestion more easily.
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.
Warwick Manufacturing Group
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.”
It is planned that the first demonstrator vehicle will be tested at the soon-to-be-built Hub to Home Transport Innovation Centre in Dudley.
Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Coventry City Council’s cabinet member for jobs and regeneration, said: “This kind of innovation is what WMG, Warwick University and in fact Coventry do best and it’s really good to think that our city is at the very front of new advances in transport.
“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 – important when traffic is growing rapidly and economic success relies on keeping people moving.”
Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership
Jonathan Browning, chairman of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP), said: “This is an exciting project which underlines Coventry and Warwickshire’s innovative reputation in playing a leading role in the next generation of transport.”