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Coventry City Council has announced that the Very Light Rail project (VLR) is set to be expanded, it is currently being tested on Queen Victoria Road and Greyfriars Road. But Coventry Live

readers are mainly sceptical about the project - wondering if it is worth the money. Coventry's VLR has been dubbed an affordable public transport solution that is gaining recognition

with its innovative, battery-powered vehicles that do away with the need for overhead wiring. When laying tracks 30cm into existing roads, installation in the city centre was completed in

just eight weeks, according to Cllr Jim O'Boyle. City residents are set to experience the new Coventry VLR system in June, but early testers have already had a taste of the future, with

one local proclaiming it "the best thing Coventry could have ever wished for." Cllr O'Boyle announced the Department for Transport has earmarked £12m for the project, with

plans to use the funds to extend the track from Coventry Railway Station right down to the Coventry University Technology Park on Puma Way, with projected completion for this by December

2026. The spread of the VLR across Coventry won't just improve travel according to council bosses. It's poised to boost local employment. Cllr O'Boyle pointed out the broader

benefits, remarking: "It is not just a transport system, it also creates job opportunities. We built this here, and we can manufacture this here, not just the vehicle but the track

system, which is really the alchemy in all of this." As the intellectual property for VLR is owned by Coventry City Council, discussions have been held with the West Yorkshire Combined

Authority. Cllr O'Boyle stated that they are 'interested' in the system, which is projected to cost approximately £189m. Commenter Destroyedcountry asks: “Unused cycle lanes

and now a plastic tram, are the people who benefit from these going to contribute to the full cost of these projects?” Incredilous says: “so the trial was never a trial at all? It was a

demonstration of the council's intention to implement their ego project no matter what.” Englandsfinished replies: “This is just a waste of money, how about resurfacing the poor

destroyed roads? The pothole fixes are not good enough.” Darren Cooper agrees: “More hold ups and more congestion on our overpopulated roads while they are being built. A total waste of

money.” Destroyedcountry adds: “A totally unnecessary project that has zero advantages for Coventry citizens. Electric buses go everywhere this tram can go so why duplicate a service which

is already there? The most used transport infrastructure - roads are in a shocking state of disrepair. Going back to an inflexible transport mode is a bad idea. What advantages does it have

over an electric bus? It will be duplicating exactly what a bus can do but in a significantly worse way.” Manfredcov points out: “If it goes to the hospital, for example, then unlike the

bus, it shouldn't get caught in traffic. That would benefit many people.” Matt Moore promises: “I will stick to using the buses, you won't get me to travel on these milkfloats,

they’re not really trams at all.” Richiegunns writes: “People need to stop moaning! The council owns the intellectual rights to the technology. This means they can sell the idea to other

cities across the UK and make money from it. A council in Yorkshire is already in the process of talking to Cov CC about doing just that. That's money coming back into the city. “This

isn't a vanity project. It isn't worthless either. Nottingham, Derby, Wolverhampton, Birmingham etc have tram networks set up, which have improved public services. London's

Docklands Light Railway (which I've travelled on regularly in the past) is another good example of a decent tram system. Imagine the VLR being pushed out to the outer city. We'd be

able to cut back on the amount of buses used. And the VLR has its on track system so it wouldn't be delayed as much as the buses are. Stop being negative and think positively for a

change!” Kenpas agrees: “If this rail system proves to be viable, it will change public transport in many cities. There are too many negative people in Coventry.” HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE

NEW PLANS FOR A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRANSPORT SYSTEM? WILL IT BE GOOD FOR COVENTRY? HAVE YOUR SAY IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION.