Autonomous bus history has been made in the UK after a trial bus carried passengers for the first time
The United Kingdom’s first full size autonomous bus has carried passengers for the first time as part of its testing process in a major milestone for the project.
In late January, Stagecoach, the UK’s largest bus and coach operator, successfully transported its first group of passengers in a ground-breaking trial in East Scotland.
The project, named CAVForth, which is part funded by the UK government’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, will be the first registered service in the UK to use full sized autonomous buses.
A fleet of five Alexander Dennis Enviro200AV vehicles will cover a 14-mile route, in mixed traffic, at up to 50mph across the iconic Forth Road Bridge from Ferrytoll Park & Ride, in Fife to Edinburgh Park Transport Interchange.
Once registered, the service will operate a frequent timetable with the capacity for around 10,000 journeys per week.
As part of the extensive testing process, Stagecoach invited a group of passengers from its Co-Design Panel to travel on the route to get feedback and share any views or improvements ahead of the full public launch of the service in the spring.
The Co-Design Panel is a diverse group of local bus users who have volunteered to help Stagecoach and its project partners design how an autonomous bus service should work. Their insights and advice have informed key aspects of the autonomous vehicle trial. Examples of how they have supported the project include:
- The introduction of a ‘bus captain’ in the saloon to reassure and help passengers with their queries, boarding and purchasing their tickets.
- Helping develop the eye-catching livery to stand out on the on the road.
- The design of communications and marketing materials which aim to build trust and share what to expect from the service in a simple, understandable way.
Fleur, who joined the panel through a forum for young people, says: “This is something I never thought I would be involved with. I’ve really enjoyed having the opportunity to share my opinions and bring my thoughts forward – and it’s brilliant to see it come through and become this actual thing from a few drawings!
“It was quiet exciting, the thought of getting on for the first time, I wasn’t worried at all about it – you wouldn’t know the difference between this and a normal bus from the driving.”
Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise Ivan McKee says: “This is another hugely significant step forward for the CAVForth project that brings us closer to these autonomous vehicles entering service.
“It has been really encouraging to watch the project develop through the various steps, from early testing and demonstrations through to carrying of passengers along the route for the first time.”