A prototype battery-powered carbon fibre and metal Very Light Rail vehicle is under construction at NP Aerospace’s plant at Foleshill in Coventry. The VLR project to develop low-cost technologies which would make light rail a viable option for medium sized cities is being managed by the Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick, in partnership with Coventry City Council and Transport for West Midlands.
The prototype vehicle has been designed by WMG and Transport Design International, with a target of achieving a mass not exceeding 1 tonne per linear metre. It will have a capacity of 56 passengers.
Testing is scheduled to start early next year at the VLR National Innovation Centre which being developed in Dudley. It is envisaged that this would then be followed by passenger operation of production vehicles on a proposed line to be built in Coventry.
