A recent deal that will lead to trials of new lightweight passenger trains has been welcomed by a recently established very light rail (VLR) working party. Late last year, one of the country’s leading rolling stock companies announced it had placed an order for three new battery-powered Revolution VLR vehicles, built in the Midlands by Transport Design International (TDI).
Tim Burleigh, of Eversholt Rail, told members of the UKTram VLR Working Party that major rail operators are already showing interest in the innovative vehicles as they seek to fulfil promises to make rail ‘cleaner’. Trials with operators are planned to start in 2026 and follow on from successful RVLR demonstrator trials and testing in Ironbridge over the past two years.