UK: A prototype of such transport has begun carrying passengers on a 220 m demonstration line in the city of Coventry.
The trial operation is to last one month, followed by the system’s refinement for a full-scale launch, scheduled for next year. Previously, a grant of €81.3 mln was received to build the demonstration line.
Trial operation of the battery-only very light transport in the UK. Source: TNX Railways/youtube
The Very Light Rail project has been developed by the University of Warwick and engineering company TDI since 2016. The 11 m long prototype, unveiled in 2021, accommodates 56 passengers, including 17 seated, and can pass curves with a radius of 15 m. With a full passenger load, the vehicle weighs just 16 t. Project partners highlight the vehicle’s rapid charging capability, which takes just minutes, and claim infrastructure costs to be four times lower than conventional tramways. In addition, the prototype is compatible with existing tram tracks.
