Alexander Dennis has announced that CAVForth, an autonomous bus service in East Scotland, will commence on May 15, 2023. The service will utilize five Alexander Dennis Enviro200AV buses and will be the first registered service in the UK to use full-sized autonomous buses, following the successful completion of an extensive testing program and registration of the bus service by Stagecoach, the largest bus and coach operator in the UK.
The CAVForth project is a joint venture of Fusion Processing Ltd, Stagecoach, Alexander Dennis, Transport Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University, and Bristol Robotics Lab. It is partially funded by the UK Government’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles and is one of the most intricate projects of its kind globally.
The autonomous bus fleet will operate on a 14-mile route in mixed traffic, reaching speeds of up to 50 mph across the Forth Road Bridge near Edinburgh. The service will run on a frequent timetable with a capacity for approximately 10,000 weekly journeys, with two staff members on board. One Safety Driver will monitor the technology from the driver’s seat, and a ‘Captain’ in the saloon will take tickets and respond to customer queries.
Kevin Stewart, Scotland’s Minister for Transport, described the project as “an exciting milestone for this innovative and ambitious project,” adding that he is looking forward to seeing CAVForth take to the roads next month. The project will help Scotland establish its credentials on the global stage, he added.
Jamie Wilson, Head of Concepts & Advanced Engineering for Alexander Dennis, said: “This is a thrilling milestone for this ambitious project which we are delighted to be delivering with our partners.” The Enviro200AV autonomous buses will showcase the latest vehicle technology, he added.
Carla Stockton-Jones, UK Managing Director for Stagecoach, said: “We are excited to introduce the UK’s first autonomous bus fleet in East Scotland, which is also home to our headquarters and where it all began over 40 years ago. We are proud to be part of this innovative project and marks a significant milestone for public transport and look forward to welcoming our customers on board in the coming months.”
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