Stagecoach set to expand autonomous vehicle trials more widely with government funding announced for new projects

Stagecoach has announced that it will be expanding its development of autonomous bus technology even further with new trials taking place in Cambridge and Sunderland, as well as extending its Scottish cross Forth Road Bridge trial to cover a longer route.

It follows the announcement today (1 February) by UK Government that grants have been given to seven successful autonomous projects across the country, forming the most advanced set of commercial, self-driving passenger and freight operations anywhere in the world. A total of £81 million has been made available in combined government and industry funding for these projects.

Three autonomous projects that Stagecoach is involved in have been granted funding through the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) Connected and Automated Mobility Programme (CAM):

CAVForth II – Led by Fusion Processing

This funding will allow the project to build further on what is believed to be the world’s most complex full-sized automated bus service, running along a 14 mile route, and building on a pilot project that is nearing completion, with a launch planned in the spring. This project will test and refine the commercial service model, from the current 'Captained' service, with a staff member onboard, to future deployments. It will also allow the route over the Forth Bridge to be extended to Dunfermline city centre, a total distance of nearly 20 miles. The additional section of the route will take in more complex autonomous driving scenarios on busy category A and B roads, mixing with city centre traffic, making it more comparable with express style bus routes.

Project partners include: Stagecoach East Scotland, Alexander Dennis Limited, University of the West of England, and Edinburgh Napier University.

Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle – Led by City of Sunderland Council
This project will research, build, trial and evaluate the deployment of a highly automated, remotely supervised, zero-emission passenger mobility service in the City of Sunderland. This will increase connectivity between a key transport interchange (bus, rail and metro) and two high-volume destinations: the University of Sunderland City Campus and Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Project partners include: Stagecoach North East, ANGOKA Ltd, Aurrigo (Richmond Design and Marketing Ltd), Newcastle University, Swansea University, and BAI Communications

Project Cambridge Connector – Led by Greater Cambridge Partnership
The Cambridge project will pilot on-demand self-driving vehicles. Up to 13 electric vehicles will provide passenger services that integrate with existing transport services within Cambridge across two sites: Cambridge University's West Cambridge Campus and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

The lead partner Greater Cambridge Partnership is the local delivery body for a City Deal with central government, and working in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council and University of Cambridge.

Project partners include: dRisk AI Ltd, Stagecoach East, IPG Automotive UK, Conigital Ltd and Gamma Energy as well as the Greater Cambridge Partnership.

Carla Stockton-Jones, UK Managing Director of Stagecoach, said: “We’re very proud to be pioneers of this technology with our plans to roll out the UK’s first full-sized autonomous bus service in Scotland in the spring.

“The government funding announced today means that we can build further on this achievement by trialling exciting new autonomous projects with our partners in Cambridge and Sunderland, and at the same time advancing the technology as we extend our Scottish bus trial to cover a longer route.

“We look forward to working with our partners across the country to roll out these new projects which will help ensure that the UK remains firmly on the map for its advancements in autonomous technology.”

Business Secretary Grant Shapps said: “In just a few years’ time, the business of self-driving vehicles could add tens of billions to our economy and create tens of thousands of jobs across the UK. This is a massive opportunity to drive forward our priority to grow the economy, which we are determined to seize.

“The support we are providing today will help our transport and technology pioneers steal a march on the global competition, by turning their bright ideas into market-ready products sooner than anyone else.”

The news follows Stagecoach recently undertaking passenger trials of the first full-sized autonomous bus service across the iconic Forth Road Bridge from Ferrytoll Park & Ride, in Fife to Edinburgh Park Transport Interchange. To see the video of the passenger trials, visit https://youtu.be/jQ4uMMYP5xg

ENDS