Rolling stock leasing company Eversholt Rail has joined the Revolution VLR consortium which is developing a new brand of very light rail vehicle.
The Revolution VLR consortium is led by Transport Design International Ltd (TDI) and includes WMG at the University of Warwick, Cummins as well as companies from the automotive and rail sectors.
The consortium said it is seeking to create “lightweight, energy-efficient system solutions to deliver affordable service growth and extension of the UK’s rail capacity”.
The RSSB is investing £3 million in the scheme.
The concept is for a lightweight, bi-directional, 18-metre-long vehicle. Without passengers, the vehicle will weigh less than one tonne per linear metre and will run on lightweight modular slab track.
The innovative new system will use optimised hybrid propulsion and regenerative braking.