Agenda item

Briefing Note of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

(Note: Councillor O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration and Councillor Welsh, Deputy Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration have been invited to attend the meeting for this matter)

The Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) received a Briefing Note that provided the background and current status of the Very Light Rail Project.

Coventry City Council (CCC) and Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (DMBC) were in collaboration with partners to establish the West Midlands as a world-class business investment location by supporting urban public transport connectivity, developing significant supply chain opportunities and providing a focus for driving up skill levels, focusing on the development of Very Light Rail (VLR) Technology.

The Coventry VLR Project would deliver a very light weight mass transport rail solution comprising a modern battery-operated vehicle and innovative track system that was relatively simple and cost effective to construct. The integrated system would be tested at the Dudley Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre (VLRNIC) and once proof of concept was achieved, the first route most likely to be taken forward in Coventry was a route linking the railway station with the main hospital in the city, a route of some 7km. The programme consisted of 3 projects all focussing on the development of VLR technology in the West Midlands - a world class business investment location:

1.  Coventry VLR Vehicle and Track Research & Development (R&D)

2.  Dudley Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre

3.  Coventry VLR First Route

4  Vehicle Research and Development

WMG had been commissioned by CCC to lead and procure the services of a vehicle design specialist to design and oversee the build of the Coventry VLR vehicle. WMG appointed Transport Design International (TDI) in June 2018 and were supporting the design work with research focused on batteries, electric powertrain, charging, materials, light weighting, Finite Element Analysis, and the regulatory pathway for this novel vehicle. The vehicle design was well advanced and was signed-off at a Design Review Panel Meeting on the 6th August 2019. The design activity was now focused on detailed design of all components such as the car body, bogie, high voltage battery, and interior.

Manufacture of the vehicle was due to commence in early 2020 through to November 2020 when factory acceptance testing would take place. The vehicle was scheduled for delivery to the VLRNIC site, in Dudley, in Autumn 2020 for initial performance testing and acceptance, which would be complete in Spring 2021. The vehicle would then need to be tested on the new track form which was programmed to be available from Summer 2021 to commence integrated system testing.

WMG had been commissioned by the Council to lead and procure the services of a track innovation partner to design the innovative trackform with the specification for the track summarised as follows:

•  Develop a light weight, shallow form track system of modular design that could be exported to other towns and cities across the UK and globally.

•  Have minimal impact on below road surface utilities, taking advantage of the modular design to allow future utilities access.

The procurement of the innovation partner was due to be concluded in January 2020 and a 14-month programme to develop the track design would follow. Once designed and factory tested, a 325m test track would need to be installed at Dudley VLRNIC for integrated system testing to take place. Work to complete the VLRNIC in Dudley in time for performance testing from Autumn 2020 was underway, with the construction of the Retaining Wall (required to support the Midland Metro Extension and create the footprint for the site) commencing in October 2019. Two potential corridors had been assessed for feasibility, economic benefits and costs to be delivered as the first route: City Centre to Warwick University via the railway station; and Railway Station to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW). These routes connected major employment sites, development sites and potential strategic park and ride sites with the city centre and the railway station, which was under redevelopment as a major transport interchange. The feasibility work indicated that the UHCW route would yield the greatest benefits and was therefore most likely to be taken forward for implementation for the first route. Subject to the success of the first route, the network would be expanded and include links to strategic locations such as University of Warwick, Jaguar Land Rover and HS2 interchange.

The Board questioned officers, received responses, and discussed the following issues:

·  Light rail vehicle – simple design, light, £5m cost, will carry 250 people maximum.

·  Light rail track – light, £8m cost, surface installation and low maintenance.

·  Easy removal (approx. 90 minutes) and reinstatement of track section, for utilities maintenance.

·  No timetables or booking to use system – will run regularly to enable passengers to use quickly and easily.

·  Phasing and timeframe - project well on target: R & D Phase January 2019, Year 2020 - track design, vehicle construction, test track, demonstrator vehicle, Spring 2025 First Route Phase

·  Business case – preparation underway, based on realistic costs and delivery.

·  Examples of light rail options worldwide – specific to individual countries within their identified funding. Not comparable to the model Coventry needs to deliver within its budget.

·  Environmental considerations – light rail offers low carbon emission travel

·  Single driver operation of vehicle – additional driverless carriages can be coupled

·  Track assessed for load bearing capabilities – light rail vehicles and car weights acceptable, work was continuing on heavy good vehicle weights which had proved more challenging

·  Coventry were leading on very light rail – DfT on board with project and other cities across the UK were aspiring to Coventry’s lead.

·  First route – Rail Station to City Centre to University Hospital

·  Challenging legislative process which was outdated and lengthy - DfT aware and that Coventry was making representations to look at ways to progress the process.

·  Cross political party support countrywide for this transport option – low costs, low maintenance, low carbon emissions.

·  Risks of project identified and managed.

·  Investigating 5G for delivery of the digital autonomy.

RESOLVED that the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3):

1)  Notes the progress made to date on the development of a Very Light Rail Project in Coventry.

2)  Supports the continued development of the Very Light Rail Project in Coventry.

3)  There were no further recommendations for the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration.