Arup has appointed engineering consultancy Tony Gee as a strategic partner to lead the design for the next stage of the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) programme.

The collaboration focuses on a new 800-metre twin-track demonstrator route that will operate within live traffic, representing a critical milestone in the integration of this innovative transport system.

The CVLR programme is designed to provide the benefits of traditional light rail at significantly lower costs and faster delivery speeds. By utilising lightweight, battery-powered vehicles, the system eliminates the need for expensive overhead wires. Furthermore, the use of a shallow trackform—installed just 30cm below the road surface—minimises the need for utility diversions, which are a major cost driver in conventional tram projects.

The new demonstrator route will link Coventry Railway Station to Coventry University's Technology Park. Beyond serving as a functional link, the route will act as a "live laboratory," providing essential data on operational performance, installation techniques, and constructability. This evidence will be instrumental in finalising the business case for Coventry's first full-scale commercial CVLR line.

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Paul Stephens, Project Director and Associate Director at Arup UKIMEA, said: "Arup's work on the demonstrator route offers a valuable testbed for understanding how innovative transport technology performs within a complex city centre environment. Through our collaboration with Tony Gee and Coventry City Council, we are combining multidisciplinary strengths to accomplish an operational system that functions effectively within the city's existing infrastructure and presents the evidence required for future expansion."

Councillor Jim O'Boyle, Coventry City Council Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, said: "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 brings us significantly closer to a transport network that reflects the ambition and ingenuity of our city."

David Lea, Tony Gee Project Director and Associate Director for Birmingham, added: "We are privileged to be part of a project which represents a major step forward in sustainable urban transport, and we're proud to support a solution that will bring cleaner, smarter, and more efficient mobility to the city. Working collaboratively with our partners Arup and Coventry City Council, we're committed to helping deliver a system that sets a new benchmark for innovation in the UK transport sector."

Funded via the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), the 800-metre section is expected to be completed by summer 2027.