The UK’s first full-sized driverless buses have begun transporting passengers between Fife and Edinburgh, marking a “significant milestone” for public transport and autonomous vehicles.
The launch of the AB1 service, which is operated by Stagecoach, is the culmination of the CAVForth project.
A fleet of five vehicles will cover the new 14-mile route, across the Forth Road Bridge from Ferrytoll park-and-ride in Fife to Edinburgh Park station.
They can travel at up to 50mph.
The service will have two members of staff on board: a ‘safety driver’ to monitor the technology, and a ‘captain’ in the saloon to take tickets and answer customer questions.
The captain is there to demonstrate what a full-size autonomous bus might feel like in the future, when one member of staff can leave the cab while the computer does the driving.
The trial, which will now run until 2025, aims to demonstrate autonomous technology in a real-world environment transporting up to 10,000 passengers per week.
During this time, the CAVForth partners – including Stagecoach, Transport Scotland and Edinburgh Napier University, will monitor the benefits for passengers, operations and society, and look to make improvements.
Professor Nick Antonopoulos, deputy vice chancellor and vice principal of research and innovation at Edinburgh Napier University, said: “CAVForth is a world-leading project, and one we are proud to be involved in.
“Automation offers an opportunity to transform the ways we get around in years to come, while improving safety and reducing energy consumption.
“As this trial gets underway, we look forward to contributing Edinburgh Napier University’s transport research expertise to understand more about the passenger experience on the AB1 service.”
The route was officially launched on 11 May, carrying its first passengers yesterday (15 May).
Kevin Stewart, Scottish transport minister, said: “It is really exciting to see the innovative and ambitious CAVForth Project take to the roads in earnest after all the hard work of the partner organisations involved in bringing this world first to Scotland.
“We want Scotland to continue to be at the forefront in the development of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles and the start of this live trial will really help the country establish its credentials on the world stage.
“I am excited to see how this technology can help to support our vision for a sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system.”
The project is part-funded by the UK Government’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV).
It has received additional funding for CAVForth II, which challenges the partners to extend the route north to Dunfermline City bus station in 2024.
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