Stagecoach has announced it will be testing the UK’s first self-driving bus on Scottish roads this week, with plans to recruit 20 drivers when the scheme goes live.
In partnership with Fusion Processing, Falkirk-based bus builder Alexander Dennis and Transport Scotland, the autonomous bus will not accept any passengers on the route that is being written into its system, ahead of the launch of the CAVForth pilot service during the summer.
The two-week pilot is jointly funded by the UK Government’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV).
It will see five single-deck autonomous buses, designed by Alexander Dennis operating over the Forth Road Bridge between the Ferrytoll Park and Ride in Fife and the Edinburgh Park Train and Tram interchange.
The buses are fitted with Fusion Processing’s sensor and control technology, CAVstar, that is hoped to let the buses run on pre-selected roads without the safety driver having to intervene or take control.
The buses should provide a service capable of carrying up to 36 passengers over the 14 miles across the bridge, with capacity for more than 10,000 passengers a week.
The on-road testing in Scotland follows successful depot-based trials, track testing and virtual simulation.
As part of project CAVForth, around 500 members of the public have helped with the implementation of the new autonomous bus service, after providing feedback on what would make them feel comfortable and confident in travelling.
Built on the feedback received, the partners have developed the new autonomous vehicles, making sure future autonomous bus services still have a member of staff on board.
In a further positive step forward in the project, more than 20 specially trained ‘autonomous bus professionals’ are soon to be recruited by Stagecoach from across its East Scotland business.
When the service goes live, these experienced bus drivers will monitor the autonomous system alongside another employee who will move around the bus, talking to passengers about the service and answering any questions they may have, demonstrating what a future service might feel like when the staff member is able to leave the cab while the computer does the driving.
Sam Greer, regional director for Stagecoach in Scotland, said: “This is a major step forward in our journey to fully launch the UK’s first full-sized autonomous bus service and will provide easy access to a brand-new bus route in the heart of East Scotland.”
Chris Gall, ADL group engineering director, said: “The start of on-route testing is a milestone for our autonomous bus project... as we move towards passenger services later in the year, the project will be a landmark demonstration of future technologies in transport.”
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