A driverless bus has taken passengers across the Forth Road Bridge ahead of the launch of the UK's first autonomous bus service next week. From Monday, May 15, up to 10,000 passengers a week could use the service between Ferry Toll near Inverkeithing and Edinburgh Park. It is due to run on a trial basis until 2025.
Two members of staff will be aboard each of the five Stagecoach buses, but although one will sit behind the wheel they will not be driving the bus. Instead they will monitor sensors, cameras and radar outside the bus, but they can take over control if necessary.
Transport minister Kevin Stewart, who was one of the passengers on board, said: “It's absolutely fantastic to see this autonomous bus testing here. We want Scotland to be at the very forefront of this technology. I'm pleased to have had the opportunity to travel on one of these autonomous vehicles. I felt very safe on the bus, there has been a huge amount of testing. There were staff on board. I hope the people of Fife and Edinburgh and see for themselves just how safe all of this is. We need people to use public transport more, whether that be buses or trains. We're doing all that we can to encourage people on to public transport. This adds to the mix and we have a way to go in terms of that change.”
1. Full speed ahead
The buses will travel at up to 50mph across the Forth Road Bridge. A fleet of five Alexander Dennis Enviro200AV vehicles will cover the 14-mile route. The buses have already completed one million testing miles. The service will now operate on a trial basis until 2025. Photo: Andrew Milligan
2. Driverless bus
The media was invited along to see one of the autonomous buses in operation ahead of the launch of the service on Monday May 15. Scotland's transport minister Kevin Stewart was one of the first to strap in for the short journey as the Stagecoach vehicles were tested on the service between Ferry Toll near Inverkeithing and Edinburgh Park. Photo: Andrew Milligan
3. Minister at the wheel
Minister for Transport Kevin Stewart at the wheel of one of the new buses at the Traffic Scotland National Control Centre in South Queensferry for the launch of the UK's first autonomous bus service. A fleet of five Alexander Dennis Enviro200AV vehicles will cover a 14-mile route, in mixed traffic, at up to 50mph across the Forth Road Bridge. Photo: Andrew Milligan
4. Look, no hands
Minister for Transport Kevin Stewart makes the point that although a "safety driver" will sit at the wheel, they won't be driving the bus. That will be down to the computer, working with the sensors and cameras on the outside of the bus. But the driver can intervene if anything goes wrong. Photo: Andrew Milligan