Tony Gee Appointed by Arup for Next Phase of Coventry’s Very Light Rail

Tony Gee has been appointed by Arup as a strategic partner to lead the design of the next phase of Coventry City Council’s Very Light Rail (CVLR) programme; the approximately 800m city centre demonstrator scheme.

This appointment marks a significant milestone for the programme, bringing together two industry leading engineering consultancies with a shared commitment to technical excellence, innovation, and sustainable transport solutions. By combining Arup’s global expertise in complex infrastructure with Tony Gee’s renowned capability in specialist design and construction engineering, this collaboration will play a central role in shaping the next chapter of Coventry’s transformative mobility vision.

The project represents a major opportunity to advance a new approach to urban transport, with the design maximising efficiency, minimising disruption, and supporting long term economic and environmental benefits for the region.

This collaboration underscores a shared ambition: to help deliver a cutting edge transport system that enhances connectivity, supports inclusive growth, and sets a new benchmark for sustainable urban mobility in the UK.

Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Coventry City Council Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, said: “By approving this next and longer demonstrator route for Coventry Very Light Rail, we have taken a decisive step toward transforming how people move around our city. This is a bold investment in cleaner, smarter and more sustainable transport, and it shows our commitment to delivering real change for residents and businesses.

“The route to Coventry University’s Technology Park will allow us to showcase the benefits of CVLR in a live environment, proving how this innovative system can be delivered quickly, affordably and with minimal disruption. It’s an exciting moment for Coventry, and brings us significantly closer to a transport network that reflects the ambition and ingenuity of our city.”

David Lea, Project Director at Tony Gee, said: “We are privileged to be part of a project which represents a major step forward in sustainable urban transport, and we’re proud to support a solution that will bring cleaner, smarter, and more efficient mobility to the city.

“Working collaboratively with our partners Arup and Coventry City Council, we’re committed to helping deliver a system that sets a new benchmark for innovation in the UK transport sector.”

Paul Stephens, Project Director and Associate Director at Arup UKIMEA said: “Arup’s work on the demonstrator route offers a valuable testbed for understanding how innovative transport technology performs within a complex city centre environment.

“Through our collaboration with Tony Gee and Coventry City Council, we are combining multidisciplinary strengths to accomplish an operational system that functions effectively within the city’s existing infrastructure and presents the evidence required for future expansion.”

We look forward to the work ahead and to contributing to a project that is redefining what future ready transport can look like.