Coventry's Very Light Rail tested for first time

The transport network, currently in the testing phase, would be faster and cheaper to build than traditional tram systems, bosses say

A new 'very light' rail line has been successfully tested for the first time, a council has said.

The Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) is billed as a faster and cheaper alternative to traditional tram systems.

The track is thinner than existing rail lines and the project features a battery-powered vehicle.

More than £40m in government funding has been invested in the research and development project.

It was put to the test at the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre on a track featuring a tight curve and a 250m vertical hump, which can both prove challenging for more commonly used networks.

The network's thinner track enables it to be laid without the need to divert pipes and cables under the road, Coventry City Council has said.

'Zero-emission travel'

The development work is leading up to a real-world demonstration of CVLR on the streets of the city centre, the local authority added.

"This test will also show that our vehicle is able to run on tight corners and up and down hills - it's this that will enable it to run in smaller and medium sized cities," said councillor Jim O'Boyle, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change.

"Coventry Very Light Rail is pioneering - with the potential to create new jobs and tackle climate change by providing people with a zero-emission mode of travel."