The World’s First Self-Driving Public Bus Fleet to Launch in Scotland in May 2023.
Self-driving public bus model by Stagecoach. (Photo: Stagecoach)
Self-driving buses from the transportation group Stagecoach will officially operate on a 22.5 km route, including the famous Forth Road Bridge in Edinburgh, starting May 15. A total of 5 single-decker buses will run regularly, transporting approximately 10,000 passengers each week. This development follows a successful trial run in January of this year and financial support from the UK government, according to a report by Interesting Engineering on April 6.
According to Stagecoach, their self-driving buses will travel at a maximum speed of 80 km/h on highways and bus lanes while navigating traffic lights and roundabouts. Although each bus does not require a driver, two staff members will remain on board at all times: one in the driver’s seat to monitor the control system and another dedicated to assisting passengers.
This project is part of the CAVForth initiative (Connected and Automated Vehicles) launched by the UK government in 2019. The self-driving bus fleet has come to fruition after 4 years of research, planning, and development. “We are very excited to introduce the first self-driving bus fleet in the UK in eastern Scotland. This project marks a significant milestone for public transport,” shared Carla Stockton-Jones, Managing Director of Stagecoach UK.
In addition to the new self-driving public bus route, Stagecoach will also introduce 122 electric buses across key transport networks throughout the UK in the next 12 months. The operator recently launched fully electric buses in cities such as Perth, Aberdeen, Inverness, and Dunfermline in Scotland.
