Operator Whippet to trial autonomous buses in Cambridge
A public trial of autonomous buses in Cambridge will be carried out by transport company Whippet, it has been confirmed.
It has been appointed as the operator for the Connector trial, which will take place in two phases and provide insight into how autonomous vehicles could improve public transport in the city.
The first phase will involve a self-driving bus operating from the Madingley Road Park & Ride site, serving the University of Cambridge’s Cambridge West Innovation District and Eddington.
Phase two will introduce two additional autonomous buses running between Trumpington and Babraham Park & Ride sites, serving the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
Ed Cameron, director at Whippet, said: “As Cambridgeshire’s oldest bus operator, Whippet are delighted to be leading the way in supporting the trial of the very latest technology and the role it may play in the future of public transport in the region.”
Work will now start to finalise operational agreements and processes, including driver training and depot management, to ensure the vehicles are fully tested and meet the rigorous safety criteria before public trials begin.
All autonomous buses will operate with a safety driver on board for the duration of the trials to ensure passenger safety and operational oversight.
The trial aims to provide insights into how autonomous vehicles could enhance public transport options in the future.
The Greater Cambridge Partnership, which is leading the project, has been working closely with its consortium partners and the government to appoint Whippet.
Cllr Elisa Meschini, chair of the GCP’s executive board, said: “Autonomous vehicle technology has the potential to transform the way people travel in and around Cambridge.
“It’s great to have Whippet join the Connector project, and their involvement marks another step forward in bringing this exciting technology to our region.
“Our focus remains on ensuring these trials are delivered safely and provide meaningful insights into how self-driving buses could support public transport in the future.”
The Connector consortium, led by the GCP, also includes Alexander Dennis Ltd, dRISK, Fusion Processing Ltd, Gamma Energy and IPG Automotive. The project is funded by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) and industry partners.
The Connector project is part of the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) programme, which is helping to shape the future of self-driving technologies in the UK. With combined government and industry funding of £84million for six separate projects, this initiative represents a significant step forward in developing autonomous public transport solutions.
