Transport systems consultancy services

Tender description

The Coventry VLR (Very Light Rail) project is a major initiative to develop a novel, low-cost, low-carbon rail-based public transport system for operation within the city of Coventry. The programme is a collaboration between WMG (University of Warwick), Coventry City Council (CCC) and Transport for West Midlands (TfWM). The overall programme was conceived to deliver an affordable rail based public transport system, capable of on-and off-street running, which will use light-weight, zero emission self-propelled vehicles providing "turn up and go" service which it is hoped will encourage the general public to embrace modal change away from cars. The procurement process is to appoint a supplier to provide the core services of concept and detailed design for the track form, as well as component-level validation via component manufacture and testing. The delivery of detailed, tested and verified design specification for an innovative trackform, which needs to deliver a significant step-change reduction in light-rail installation costs. The objective is to identify novel structures that will enable the aggressive cost target per route kilometre to be achieved. Concept solutions will be developed via the detailed design and simulation and where appropriate through the construction and laboratory testing of key elements. The procurement process is to appoint a supplier to provide the core services of concept and detailed design for the track form, as well as component-level validation via component manufacture and testing.