Search
Very Light Rail route to Coventry University’s Technology Park to showcase city’s transport future
The initial CVLR demonstrator temporarily installed in Coventry City Centre last year
University news
Wednesday 14 January 2026
Press contact
Coventry University’s Technology Centre will be the first stop on a pioneering new tram network set to be built in Coventry.
Coventry City Council has approved a new demonstrator line for its Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) network, designed to showcase the huge benefits of the technology.
The initial 800m section will run from Coventry Railway Station to the Technology Park and will also include a new service area and charging station at the university’s Mile Lane site.
Should the demonstrator prove successful, the line would remain in place as part of the permanent network and be extended further afield
The technology behind CVLR enables tram routes to be built quickly and cheaply, while the shallow tracks mean the majority of existing infrastructure such as pipes and cables can remain undisturbed underground.
The electric trams are also designed to cope with much sharper turns, allowing them to navigate through the existing city landscape and negating the need for wholescale changes to city layouts and for the acquisition of land for the route. The non-invasive construction of the track routes means they don’t require planning consent which further expedites the project delivery.
The route to the Technology Park has been made possible thanks to an agreement by the university allowing Coventry City Council to use its land. The team behind CVLR also plan to base their delivery headquarters at the Technology Park.
CVLR is a first-of-its-kind transport system that offers huge benefits, not just for Coventry but for other cities across the globe of a similar size who may find a traditional tram system too costly or problematic.
We have collaborated closely with the city council and it is fantastic that Coventry University’s Technology Park will be the first stop on the demonstrator line. With our focus on sustainability, being able to offer transport from the railway station in the city centre to the Technology Park will help us encourage people to leave their cars at home.
The technology behind CVLR is owned by Coventry City Council so should other cities adopt it, this would be a very proud moment for us to see it help others.
Brendan O’Reilly, Sustainable Transport Manager at Coventry University
It is not the first time Coventry residents have been given a glimpse of CVLR, with a short demonstrator line being temporarily installed in the city centre last year.
However, this new, much longer demonstrator line is an important step for the project as it will allow the CVLR to run alongside live traffic.
Coventry City Council want to see the demonstrator operational by October 2027, allowing delegates at the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress being staged at the NEC in October that year to be among those to experience it for themselves.
It is hoped that such exposure will increase interest in CVLR and potentially see the system adopted in other cities around the world.
By approving this next and longer demonstrator route for Coventry Very Light Rail, we have taken a decisive step toward transforming how people move around our city. This is a bold investment in cleaner, smarter and more sustainable transport, and it shows our commitment to delivering real change for residents and businesses.
The route to Coventry University’s Technology Park will allow us to showcase the benefits of CVLR in a live environment, proving how this innovative system can be delivered quickly, affordably and with minimal disruption. It’s an exciting moment for Coventry, and today’s decision brings us significantly closer to a transport network that reflects the ambition and ingenuity of our city.
Cllr Jim O'Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change
Find out more about CVLR and Coventry University’s involvement with last year’s city centre demonstrator line.
