A new form of window glazing featuring a lightweight polymer with an advanced scratch-resistant coating has been installed on the Coventry Very Light Rail vehicle, and could be used in other means of public transport. The new windows are highly resistant to breakage which provides passengers with a step-change in safety. The glazing has been designed by a collaboration of WMG – University of Warwick, Far-UK (Lead) and TDi Ltd and was funded via the UK Innovation agency, Innovate UK (SBRI Rail Demonstrations: First of a Kind 2020).
The official report into the 2016 Sandilands (Croydon) tram crash made a number of recommendations for tram vehicle improvements. It called for development of windows and doors with improved strength. To address this need, researchers have been on a mission to make public transport safer in new innovative ways, one of which features crash-resistant glazing.