BCIMO Family Day
In celebration of Railway 200
Countdown to Our Event!
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OVERVIEW
🚂 BCIMO FAMILY DAY — STEP ABOARD FOR A DAY OF DISCOVERY AND FUN!
Join us at BCIMO for a day of family-friendly fun and discovery! Whether you’re passionate about rail innovation, regional growth, or just looking for a great day out, this is the event for you.
This year, we’re celebrating the 200th anniversary of the modern railway with the national Railway 200 celebration. From skills and innovation to heritage and tourism, we’re proud to be part of this milestone.
On Saturday 17th May, BCIMO’s 175-year history meets the future of rail. Our Family Day features local businesses, fairground rides, exclusive train experiences, live entertainment, and a variety of food and drink options. Don’t miss out!
🌟 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
🎤 Railway icon and President of Railway Benefit Fund, Pete Waterman OBE, will officially open the day at the Presentation Platform.
🚆 Exclusive rides on the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) Vehicle — a once-only opportunity to step aboard and experience the future of transport.
🎡 Family fun with fairground rides, interactive demos for kids like model railways, tram simulators, face painting, creative crafts, mascots, and delicious food!
🎟️ TICKET PRICES
Adult (16+): £10
Child (ages 5-15): £5
Family Ticket 1 (2 adults + 2 kids, ages 5-15): £25
Family Ticket 2 (2 adults + 3 kids, ages 5-15): £30
Your ticket gives you access to a wide range of activities and entertainment throughout the day, ensuring fun for the whole family at an affordable price! Explore, engage, and enjoy without worrying about extra charges for most activities.
✅ WHAT’S INCLUDED IN YOUR TICKET
- Access all areas!
- Exclusive Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) vehicle rides
- Live entertainment, including family-friendly shows and special appearances
- Exciting experiences for both adults and children, including model railways, a tram driving simulator, and creative activities
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❌ WHERE EXTRA COSTS WILL APPLY
- Food & drink from local vendors and food stalls
- Merchandise and items available for purchase at certain areas
- Fairground rides and select attractions
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Look for the £ symbol on our event map to identify where additional costs apply. Most activities and entertainment are included in your ticket, making it a fantastic value day out!
💖 A DAY OF FUN FOR A GREAT CAUSE
We are proud to share that all profits from the BCIMO Family Day will be donated to five very special charities. So, not only will you have an amazing time, but you’ll also be supporting some fantastic causes!
Charities We Are Supporting:
The Kaleidoscope Plus Group
Railway Benefit Fund
4Louis
Railway Children
Young Lives vs. Cancer
By attending BCIMO Family Day, you’re helping make a positive difference in the lives of others.
fundraising totaliser
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You can track our fundraising progress here!
Our aim is to raise a minimum of £10,000. The profits will be shared equally across our five charities.
We are raising funds through:
- Ticket sales
- Sponsorships and stall sales
- Raffle ticket sales
- Donations
So far we have raised £4,019, which equates to 40.19% of our target!
WHAT’S ON
🗺️ EVENT LAYOUT: TWO LEVELS TO EXPLORE!
The event will be spread across two levels of the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre. The second floor is home to our Meeting & Event Spaces, while the ground floor and outdoor areas showcase our Rail Development & Test Site.
We’re currently making some changes to the layouts, and more information will be provided as soon as they’re finalised.
Stay tuned for an interactive map with clickable hotspots to guide you around the site!
🗺️ WHAT’S ON LEVEL 2!
Your first stop for check-in, on-the-day sales, and event information. Our friendly team is ready to welcome you!
Just nearby, you’ll also find a stand offering BCIMO merchandise and raffle tickets — with some fantastic prizes up for grabs, all in support of our chosen charities.
Join us for talks, demos, and special appearances! Highlights include the official opening by Pete Waterman OBE, talks on rail history, and Children’s Hour with mascots, balloon modelling, and photo ops.
Plus, enjoy talks on the future of rail, featuring our main event partner, Coventry City Council, and their Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) project, along with charity presentations and the exciting raffle draw!
Discover a mix of visitor attractions, including local favourites from Dudley Council’s Discover Dudley, alongside businesses and organisations from further afield.
Explore offerings from educational providers in the region, Black Country heritage with the Stourbridge Lion and Black Country Society, plus exciting innovations like 3D printing.
Dive into the world of model railways with stunning displays and interactive experiences. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or just starting out, there’s something to captivate everyone.
Watch intricate models come to life, explore a variety of layouts, and discover the craftsmanship behind these miniature railways. It’s a great spot to appreciate the artistry and creativity of model railway enthusiasts!
Unleash your creativity with arts and crafts activities, perfect for all ages. From designing colourful creations to hands-on projects, you’ll have the chance to make something unique to take home.
Whether you’re crafting a masterpiece or simply having fun, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
Ever wanted to drive a tram? Try out our photo-realistic tram driver simulator and take control of a tram, either along BCIMO’s test track or through the streets of Coventry.
With immersive, high-quality imagery, you’ll feel like you’re truly behind the wheel. Whether you’re a rail enthusiast or just after some fun, this is your chance to see if you have what it takes to be a tram driver!
🗺️ WHAT’S ON LEVEL 0!
Head outside for classic family fun, where children can enjoy fairground rides, bounce on trampolines, test their aim with football goals, and try their luck at the hook-a-duck stall.
Plus, as an extra treat, they’ll have the chance to climb aboard a real fire engine! This lively area is packed with playful attractions and plenty of opportunities for young visitors to burn off some energy.
Take a break and refuel with a tempting selection of food and drink! From tasty street food and wood-fired pizzas to sweet treats like churros and waffles, there’s something for every craving.
Quench your thirst with a refreshing choice of hot and cold drinks including non-alcoholic cocktails, wines and beers. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or settling in for a relaxed lunch, this is the perfect spot to recharge before your next adventure.
Browse a great mix of family-friendly stalls offering toys, balloons, bubbles, sweets, fudge, books and more — perfect for little shoppers and those with a sweet tooth!
You’ll also find a face painting station here, offering the chance to transform into a favourite character or simply add a splash of colour and fun to your day.
Step aboard the last T69 tram to be driven before the fleet’s retirement in 2015 and discover how this iconic vehicle is now helping to shape the future of rail. Donated to BCIMO by UK Tram, it’s currently being refurbished and used as a test vehicle for innovative rail technologies.
You’ll even meet some of its original drivers, ready to share stories from its past and explain its new role in the world of rail innovation!
Enjoy a lively mix of entertainment, from performances by talented musicians and a brass band, to acrobatic displays, mime artists, and a marching drill by the Sea Cadets.
Meet our fun mascots, watch robot dogs in action, and look out for plenty of surprises throughout the day. There’s something for everyone to enjoy!
Experience the star attraction of the day with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ride on the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) vehicle at the BCIMO facility. The exclusive journey takes you along the full test route, through the tunnel, and around the purpose-built 15m radius loop.
Be among the first to experience this groundbreaking technology before it heads to Coventry for public demonstration. Don’t miss out on this exciting adventure!
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
We are looking for individuals and organisations to support our event and help make it a success in a variety of different ways, including:
visitors & volunteers
If you are passionate about all things ‘rail’, live locally and want a fun day out with the family, please click ‘Book Tickets Now’
If you are interested in volunteering at our event, please click ‘Get Involved’
visual content creators*
If you are a photographer, videographer, drone operator, podcaster or social media content creator, and you would like to create content for and at our event, please click ‘Get Involved’
speakers & performers*
If you are a confident speaker with a passion for either the history or future of rail, or a performing arts school, brass/music band or cadet group, and would like to speak or perform at our event, please click ‘Get Involved’
media partners
If you are a local, regional or national media organisation and would like to help promote our event, both in the run up to, during and after the day, please click ‘Get Involved’
stall holders
If you are a small local business selling high-quality creative gift ideas or unique handmade crafts, or a larger organisation/visitor attraction wishing to have a stall/stand at our event, please click ‘Get Involved’
Sponsors
If you are a local, regional or national organisation interested in purchasing one of sponsorship packages, or donating to our charities, please click ‘Get Involved’
*In-kind sponsorship benefits will be provided.
STAY INFORMED
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BCIMO is a not-for-profit Research and Technology Organisation (RTO) and operator of the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre (VLRNIC), a unique, world-class centre for rail innovation based in Dudley in the West Midlands.
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Postal Address: BCIMO, Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre, Zoological Drive, Dudley. DY1 4AW
Email: info@bcimo.co.uk
Phone: 07769 586893
