Coventry very light rail

[Sandy Lane]

Must be quite a profitable game as quite a few track workers in orange on site Sunday morning? Not seen the tram in Coventry recently though. Is it still at Dudley?

[Roy]

Must be quite a profitable game as quite a few track workers in orange on site Sunday morning? Not seen the tram in Coventry recently though. Is it still at Dudley?

It was certainly being tested at Dudley about three weeks ago.

[Sandy Lane]

It was certainly being tested at Dudley about three weeks ago.

Thks for the update. I expect it will be moved to the Coventry demo track in the city centre quite soon?

[Sandy Lane]

Thks for the update. I expect it will be moved to the Coventry demo track in the city centre quite soon?

Here is what I have found out so far about the Coventry demo track.

The prototype railcar will be in use at Dudley BCIMO on 17 May 2025 [family day].

It will then come over to the Coventry demo line and be set up for public running between 28 May and 18 June 2025.

For the demo runs each trip is limited to 17 passengers plus 1 wheelchair/pushchair apparently. Design capacity is max of 60 passengers total (seated plus standees).

[ellspurs]

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/tech-company-behind-coventrys-very-32006741

"Dudley Very Light Rail Innovation Centre goes into administration"

Ho-hum.

[Coventrybususer95]

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/tech-company-behind-coventrys-very-32006741

"Dudley Very Light Rail Innovation Centre goes into administration"

Ho-hum.

Just seen a post by CCC saying it wont effect CVLR and that they plan on starting work on the new line shortly 

[the trainbasher]

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/tech-company-behind-coventrys-very-32006741
"Dudley Very Light Rail Innovation Centre goes into administration"
Ho-hum.

From Companies House...

2 active persons with significant control / 0 active statements
Transport For West Midlands Active
Correspondence address
16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, B19 3SD

Notified on
23 May 2019
Governing law
England And Wales
Legal form
Combined Authority


Nature of control
Ownership of voting rights - More than 25% but not more than 50%
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council Active
Correspondence address
Council House, Priory Road, Dudley, West Midlands, England, DY1 1HF

Notified on
23 May 2019
Governing law
England And Wales
Legal form
Local Authority


Nature of control
Ownership of voting rights - More than 25% but not more than 50%
 

[Sandy Lane]

From Companies House...

Sorry, being a mere simple person I do not understand the relevance of the last post.

[the trainbasher]

Sorry, being a mere simple person I do not understand the relevance of the last post.

Basically, that from Companies house states that TfWM and Dudley MBC were, as at 07/07/2025 16:34 the owners of [font="Open Sans", sans-serif]Dudley Very Light Rail Innovation Centre[/font]

[Sandy Lane]

Basically, that from Companies house states that TfWM and Dudley MBC were, as at 07/07/2025 16:34 the owners of Dudley Very Light Rail Innovation Centre

Thanks for the explanation and its complicated. I have been trying to piece it all together - is this a fair summary?

• The actual buildings and facilities at the Dudley test centre were termed the 'Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre' (VLRNIC) in a BCIMO press release from last December 2024. I assume it is these assets that are owned by TfWM/Dudley MBC?

• BCIMO was a separate company set up to operate the site and look for additional business for VLRNIC? My understanding is that it is BCIMO that has got into difficulty at this stage?

So I guess that HRH the West Mids Mayor / Dudley MBC may look at bringing in another company to operate the VLRNIC site?

Question has to be asked though is other than Coventry VLR what other work do they do at VLRNIC? 

[satters]

Dudley MBC are anti railway, that VLNRIC building is built across the railway alignment (OWW and South Staffs), and its not the only place they have allowed building over a line, the Wombourn branch in Pensnett is another preventing easy reopening

[the trainbasher]

Thanks for the explanation and its complicated. I have been trying to piece it all together - is this a fair summary?

• The actual buildings and facilities at the Dudley test centre were termed the 'Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre' (VLRNIC) in a BCIMO press release from last December 2024. I assume it is these assets that are owned by TfWM/Dudley MBC?

• BCIMO was a separate company set up to operate the site and look for additional business for VLRNIC? My understanding is that it is BCIMO that has got into difficulty at this stage?

So I guess that HRH the West Mids Mayor / Dudley MBC may look at bringing in another company to operate the VLRNIC site?

Question has to be asked though is other than Coventry VLR what other work do they do at VLRNIC?

BCIMO was controlled by Dudley MBC and TfWM - https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12013857/persons-with-significant-control and is the one that went into difficulty

Unfortunately the decision sheets on the Council website that potentially relate to this are classed as exempt