Transport Design International

What Transport Design International does

Transport Design International (TDI) is a UK-based rail vehicle design and manufacturing specialist headquartered in Stratford-upon-Avon, with origins dating to the late 1980s/early 1990s and 30-plus years of accumulated design heritage. The company's central proposition is the design and production of Very Light Rail (VLR) vehicles — notably the Revolution VLR, Lync, Orbit, Foresee VLR, Coventry VLR, The Cube, Vectus PRT, and the Proranger maintenance vehicle — built around a modular vehicle architecture that combines battery-electric propulsion with lightweight composite structures incorporating recycled carbon fibre. This engineering approach is positioned to enable substantially lower-cost, lighter-infrastructure urban and regional rail deployments than conventional light-rail and tram systems.

The business model spans three layers: vehicle design and engineering services for rail OEMs and operators; physical vehicle manufacture through TDI's Midlands facility; and a longer-term managed-service layer branded as Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) supported by lineside fast-charging, with a complementary Thrive MaaS digital platform. Customers and partners disclosed include Eversholt Rail (as anchor fleet backer for three pre-series Revolution VLR units), Coventry City Council, Great Western Railway, FirstGroup, Network Rail, Hyundai Rotem, and the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), alongside international outreach across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Quality and safety credentials include ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, RISQS, and a UK Rail Industry Bronze Award.

In February 2025 TDI combined with US-based Pop-Up Metro under parent company RDC to open a North American channel, appointed Sam Wauchope as Chairman, and continued to broaden its product portfolio and government grant base (UK Government £3.25M in 2021, Innovate UK in 2023). Revenue remains pre-commercial at scale on the flagship platform, with the company's near-term commercial inflection contingent on homologation progress, Eversholt-funded pre-series build-out, and conversion of the US pipeline.

Name

Transport Design International

Legal name

TDI Innovations Ltd

Website

https://transportdesigninternational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Transport Design International (TDI) is a UK-based designer and manufacturer of Very Light Rail vehicles, using recycled-carbon-fibre composites and battery-electric propulsion to serve rail operators, local authorities, and international transit agencies with lower-cost urban rail solutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Light Rail Vehicle Manufacturing

NAICS

Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing (336510), Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing (3365)

SIC

Railroad Equipment (3743)

akta.pro primary industry

Light Rail Transit (LRT) Operators (THAIABAB)

Keywords

• Very light rail vehicles
• Lightweight rail manufacturing
• Rail vehicle design
• Battery electric trams
• Transport engineering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Stratford-upon-avon

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. VLR Vehicle Sales: Sale of Very Light Rail vehicles including Revolution VLR, Lync, and Orbit to rail operators and transit authorities. Includes pre-series demonstrator vehicles and production vehicles for passenger trials.
2. Engineering and Design Services: Design, engineering, and project delivery services for rail vehicles and infrastructure, including interior design, production engineering, and human factors expertise.
3. Battery-as-a-Service: Battery charging systems as a service model to reduce upfront costs and enable widespread adoption of new vehicle technologies.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Transport Design International (TDI) designs and manufactures lightweight Very Light Rail (VLR) vehicles, including the battery-powered Revolution VLR, Lync, Orbit, and Coventry VLR. The company also delivers transport design, engineering, and project delivery services to rolling stock operators, OEMs, and transit authorities, and offers supporting infrastructure such as Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) charging systems.

Product overview

Transport Design International (TDI) offers a comprehensive very light rail (VLR) product portfolio complemented by digital innovations and engineering services. The core product line includes battery-powered VLR vehicles (Revolution VLR, Lync VLR, Orbit, Coventry VLR, Foresee VLR, The Cube) and personal rapid transit systems (Vectus PRT), alongside automated maintenance vehicles (Proranger). Supporting infrastructure includes Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) for lineside charging and LiteLine track systems. The company also provides Thrive MaaS (Mobility as a Service) digital platform and extensive engineering services spanning vehicle design, refurbishment, and production engineering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Greenway Innovations: TDI's sustainable mass transit initiative focused on VLR vehicle solutions and green transport options
• Greenway Initiative

Products and services

• Revolution VLR Battery-powered, lightweight very light rail (VLR) vehicle designed for sustainable urban transit on existing railway infrastructure.
• Lync VLR Light urban transit vehicle specifically designed for outlying communities, providing accessible rail connectivity.
• Orbit Unidirectional urban transit vehicle optimized for city centres, airports, and park-and-ride applications.
• Coventry VLR (CVLR) Coventry City Tram vehicle developed for urban transit in Coventry, UK.
• Proranger Automated guided vehicle (AGV) designed for VLR maintenance, using second-life bogies with recyclable characteristics, carrying de-icing and LaserTrain equipment.
• Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) Lineside charging system providing energy infrastructure for VLR vehicles, enabling fast charging during operation.
• Foresee VLR Very light rail vehicle in the product portfolio.
• Vectus PRT Personal Rapid Transit system for automated point-to-point transportation.
• The Cube Transit vehicle product in the VLR portfolio.
• Thrive MaaS Mobility as a Service (MaaS) digital platform for integrated transportation solutions.
• Engineering Services Comprehensive engineering services including CGI animations, vehicle styling, 3D computer modelling, mockups and prototypes, interior design, tram and train refurbishment, seating, station environments, production engineering, and human factors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Infrastructure costs reduced by up to 60% through lightweight vehicle design
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Railroad Development Corporation (RDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2025Full investment partnership between TDI Greenway and RDC's rail mobility division Pop-Up Metro (PUM), LLC. Creates joint venture to strengthen growth in emerging market for Light Metro, LRT, VLR and tram solutions worldwide. Merger gives TDI operational base in United States for North American market growth.
• Eversholt RailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for Revolution VLR vehicle development and market deployment. Eversholt Rail funding three new pre-series vehicles for UK passenger trials. Partnership combines Eversholt's rolling stock expertise with TDI's VLR technology.
• TRB Lightweight StructurescoreTechnology or IntegrationTRB developing and supplying composite structures for Revolution VLR including doors, interior systems and structural panels. Key role in manufacturing modular one-piece structural panels forming vehicle walls. Contributed to ~40% weight reduction.
• TranscalcoreTechnology or IntegrationTranscal supplying interior solutions including Aerolite lightweight seating for Revolution VLR and other rail projects. Partnership covers design, installation, engineering, manufacturing and aftercare services.
• SikacoreTechnology or IntegrationSika providing advanced adhesives, sealants and protective coatings for rail vehicle assembly. Supporting Revolution VLR development with bonding technology for lightweight materials integration.
• RSSBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRSSB part of consortium initiating Revolution VLR development combining best of rail and automotive technology for branch line solutions. Supports research and development for standard compliance.
• Severn LambcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerManufacturing partner for very light rail vehicle production, including ultra light rail vehicle delivered to Turkey within 18-month timescale.
• Network RailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with Network Rail to reinstate disused railway lines to recommence local community rail transport routes across the UK.
• Quinton Rail Technology CentreminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTesting facility for Revolution VLR demonstrator validation tests at Long Marston site.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• Wrightbus: UK-based manufacturer of zero-emission buses (StreetDeck, Hydroliner). Adjacent to TDI through zero-emission mass transit expertise and UK public-transport customer base, serving the same modal-shift agenda.
• Optare (Switch Mobility): UK-based electric bus manufacturer (Solo, MetroCity) targeting low- and zero-emission urban transport. Adjacent peer competing for the same UK zero-emission public-transport budgets as TDI's VLR products.

Broad incumbents

• Alstom: Global rail OEM (Citadis, Coradia, Flexity) with broad light rail and tram portfolio. Competes with TDI for urban and light rail procurement and could enter the VLR category if it gains traction.
• Hitachi Rail: Major rolling stock manufacturer with presence in UK and European light rail markets (e.g. Class 800/801 inter-city, trams). A broad incumbent with the scale to enter adjacent VLR categories if the market develops.
• Stadler Rail: Swiss rail manufacturer producing light rail, tram and regional trains (e.g. Citylink, FLIRT). Comparable as an established manufacturer of light rail vehicles for urban and branch-line applications across Europe and beyond.
• CRRC: World's largest rolling stock manufacturer, offering trams, light rail and metro vehicles. Relevant as a low-cost global competitor and a potential partner or competitor in international VLR deployments.
• CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles): Spanish rolling stock manufacturer with a strong light rail and tram portfolio (Urbos, Inneo). Overlaps with TDI's target urban and light-rail market and has supplied systems to many of the same UK/EU operators.
• Siemens Mobility: Global rail OEM offering trams, light rail and autonomous rail solutions (Avenio, Mireo). Comparable incumbent competing for the same urban and light-rail transit budgets TDI targets.

Direct peers

• Vivarail: UK company that developed battery and hydrogen-powered lightweight rail vehicles (Class 230 derivatives) for branch-line and urban services. A direct peer in the VLR/lightweight battery-electric rail segment with overlapping customers and use cases.
• Parry People Movers: UK-based pioneer of very light rail technology (People Mover railcars) for low-cost branch-line and urban shuttle services. Directly comparable to TDI as a specialist VLR designer and manufacturer targeting the same low-density UK rail segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/tdi_transport
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCeQx4kW4P73CPrc4aumX3ow/featured
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/transport-design-international-limited

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Transport Design International