The “Harlander” self-driving shuttle pilot in Belfast has completed its operations as scheduled, recording a 92% passenger satisfaction rate and providing new insights for future autonomous vehicle strategies and government regulation in the United Kingdom.
The nine-seater shuttle operated in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, providing “last mile” connectivity between the Titanic Halt railway station and the Catalyst innovation hub on a 15- to 20-minute loop. Originally scheduled to end in September, the service was extended by one month to gather additional data before concluding at the end of October.
Research collected during the trial showed commuters represented 40% of users, followed by occasional passengers at 40%, tourists at 15%, and students at 5%. The 40–59 age group formed the largest user demographic, according to data from the pilot.
Mike Dawson, People and Digital Transformation Director at Belfast Harbour, said the project marked Northern Ireland’s first test of autonomous vehicles on public roads. “The pilot achieved high satisfaction levels and demonstrated how this technology can complement existing transport networks,” Dawson said.
The initiative was led by Belfast Harbour in partnership with eVersum, Oxa, Angoka, BT, and HORIBA MIRA. Funded through an £11 million collaboration between government and industry, including £5.5 million from the Commercialising CAM programme, the project aimed to explore the potential of connected and autonomous mobility.
Findings from the trial will be shared with the UK government to support the development of future autonomous vehicle regulations and inform transport planning beyond 2026.
