Coventry's tram plan backed by transport secretary

12 hours ago

Simon GilbertPolitical Reporter, Coventry and Warwickshire

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the Labour government had invested millions of pounds in Coventry's Very Light Rail tram system

BBC Heidi Alexander stands in front of an electric bus with the slogan "Coventry's Electric" on the side. She wears a green jacket. — Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the Labour government had invested millions of pounds in Coventry's Very Light Rail tram system

Plans for Coventry to deliver its own tram network using new light rail technology have been described as "pioneering" by the transport secretary.

Labour's Heidi Alexander heads up the Department for Transport, which has so far committed about £40m to the development of the city's Very Light Rail system.

During a visit on Monday, she said she was keen to see how testing of the system would be in live traffic conditions when a new demonstrator track opens in the city next year. Speaking to the BBC she added: "I think we should be ambitious for the future."

But a local Conservative councillor suggested the money might be better spent on bus services.

Heidi Alexander was joined on a visit to National Express in Coventry by West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker; Coventry North West MP Taiwo Owatemi; and Coventry City Council cabinet member for climate change Jim O'Boyle (left to right)

Left to right wearing high visibility jackets in a bus depot - Heidi Alexander joined by West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker; Coventry North West MP Taiwo Owatemi; and Coventry City Council cabinet member for climate change Jim O'Boyle — Heidi Alexander was joined on a visit to National Express in Coventry by West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker; Coventry North West MP Taiwo Owatemi; and Coventry City Council cabinet member for climate change Jim O'Boyle (left to right)

Alexander said: "I think the fact that the second phase, where we're going to be testing very light rail in those live traffic conditions, is going to be a really, really interesting phase, so we can see how it works, see whether we can roll it out further."

Questions over the cost of the project have been raised in the past, with Conservative opposition leader in the city Gary Ridley suggesting money might be better spent on bus services.

A budget of £43.7m has been allocated to the tram project to date – with most funds provided by the Department for Transport via West Midlands Combined Authority and £3.2m from Coventry City Council.

Councillor Gary Ridley, Conservative group leader in Coventry, has previously questioned whether public investment in the VLR project represents good value for money

Councillor Gary Ridley stands in front of a zebra crossing. — Councillor Gary Ridley, Conservative group leader in Coventry, has previously questioned whether public investment in the VLR project represents good value for money

West Midlands Mayor, Labour's Richard Parker, told the BBC the project had his "full support" and pledged even more funding.

He said: "The reason we're doing that is the potential is enormous and significant. We need less expensive mass transit systems.

"The view is that it could cost one tenth of the cost of a metro system… it's that benefit, that potential that is motivating all of us to continue to support the investment in its development."

Richard Parker says there will be further investment in the VLR project because "the potential is enormous"

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker wears a high vis jacket and stands in front of a National Express bus. — Richard Parker says there will be further investment in the VLR project because "the potential is enormous"

Alexander was visiting the National Express depot in Coventry to hear more about the city's commitment to an all-electric bus fleet and improving the city's electric charging infrastructure – an example she wanted other cities to follow with one eye on "energy security".

She said: "I think that the future is electric when it comes to vehicles.

"When we think about the crisis that has unfolded in the Middle East in the last couple of weeks, I think some people who have got electric cars are actually thinking 'I'm not quite so worried about what is happening on the petrol forecourts'."

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