Coventry’s Very Light Rail plans are delayed due to the rejection of an early funding bid.Co-director of local transport Stephen Fidler stated that “political factors in Coventry” have to be taken into account.According to a senior council source, this indicates that Birmingham rather than Coventry would be the preferred location for the initial VLR route. However, the BBC has been informed that it was not a political party remark.
Options for possible routes across the West Midlands were considered in the broader VLR initiative, according to the DfT.
Track of the demonstrator
Additionally, civil officials had “concerns” regarding the capacity of “DfT staff to support R&D projects, particularly one led by a council team.”And the VLR group “noted it was unclear whether this would deliver different benefits from a bus, and this would be unknown until it was tried and tested live.”.
The department rejected the commercial strategy and stated that VLR should proceed as a research and development initiative in an email issued the day following the meeting.
In order to receive more financing from the government from a £40 million pot, the VLR project must demonstrate that the system functions as intended under a new funding procedure.
The vehicle will then be tested on a demonstrator track that the municipality intends to construct later this year in the city center.VLR is requesting an additional £11 million to cover the cost of the demonstrator, on top of the £15 million in government support it has already received.
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