Across the UK, the rail network has long favoured urban and intercity routes, leaving many rural communities underserved or disconnected entirely. Traditional heavy rail solutions are often too costly and complex to justify investment in less dense areas, forcing residents to rely on their cars or limited bus routes to get around. This disparity has stifled opportunity, strained local economies, and limited access to education, healthcare, and employment.
But what if the future looked different?
Enter Very Light Rail: A Smarter, Lighter Way Forward
Very Light Rail (VLR) is more than just a transport mode. It’s a solution to a long-standing challenge within rail: How can we reduce the price of delivering and operating rail services? Developed by Transport Design International (TDI), VLR reimagines mass transit with lightweight, battery-powered vehicles and low-impact infrastructure that’s quicker and more affordable to deploy.
By using recycled carbon fibre composites and modular construction, our VLR vehicles are up to 40% lighter than conventional trains. This means reduced wear on tracks and the ability to operate on existing or lightly refurbished lines, bringing new life to disused branch lines and forgotten rail corridors.
Reviving Rural Britain with VLR
Imagine a small village in Shropshire or Northumberland, once disconnected, now buzzing with the arrival of a sleek, silent Revolution VLR vehicle linking it seamlessly to nearby towns. Residents can get to work without jumping in a car. Children can travel to school more easily. Local shops attract more business. High streets see a greater footfall. Families can live rurally without sacrificing access to essential services.
TDI’s Vision: Leading with Innovation
TDI isn’t just building railcars; it’s building a vision for the future of rail. Our very light rail vehicles use the very latest lightweight technology and innovative design to ensure they are fit for purpose for future generations. With the upcoming Pre-Series Revolution VLR vehicles entering passenger trials in 2027, TDI is demonstrating how clean, community-focused transport can be rolled out affordably across the country. We already have a track record with very light rail for urban transit and take great pride in our involvement in the design and manufacture of the Coventry VLR vehicle—an innovative lightweight urban vehicle for the 21st Century.
As pioneers of the VLR movement, TDI is not only shaping the future of British transport but preparing to take VLR solutions to the global stage, enabling greener, scalable mobility around the world.
A Future on Track
As the UK pushes toward a greener, more connected future, TDI’s VLR platform stands as a beacon of innovation. Affordable. Sustainable. Scalable. The future of very light rail mobility isn’t just coming – it’s arriving on track, lighter and smarter than ever before.
