Local Authorities and regional transport operators will study how
self-driving vehicle technology can improve local transport in
remote, rural, and urban areas, as they are awarded a share of
£1.3 million in joint UK government and industry funding to study
the feasibility of self-driving mass transit solutions across the
UK.
Northumberland, Solihull, Inverness and the Isle of Skye are some
of the rural areas that will benefit from £1.3 million in funding
for six projects.
Studies will look into how self-driving vehicle technology could
be cheaper, emit less carbon, and increase transport safety and
security.
The grants, part of the Centre for Connected and Autonomous
Vehicles’ Commercialising Connected and Automated Mobility
programme, will help local places to build evidence on utilising
emerging transport technologies to connect underserved
communities to employment centres, education opportunities, and
healthcare services.
The projects add to nearly £850,000 of previous joint government
and industry funding awarded to four feasibility studies looking
into potential routes where automated vehicles could operate
exclusively from other traffic, to relieve congestion on the A414
through Hertfordshire and Essex, parts of Eastern Cambridge,
Birmingham and Solihull, and Milton Keynes.
Self-driving vehicles could revolutionise public transport and
passenger travel, especially for those who don’t drive, better
connect rural communities and reduce road collisions caused by
human error.
The joint government and industry funding winners are:
Autonomous Healthlink (Northumberland)
The project will study the feasibility of a zero emission
self-driving system on a segregated route between Seaton Delaval
Station to the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in
Cramlington. The study will aim to increase accessibility to the
hospital to support the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation
Trust’s plan to develop the site and increase patient services.
- Partners: Milestone Transport Planning Limited (Lead), Dromos
Mobility Limited, Pegasus Planning Group Limited, Newcastle
University
- Grant Awarded: £155,911
Blythe Rural Automated Vehicle Operations (West
Midlands)
The project will study the feasibility of a shuttle service
utilising two different self-driving vehicle technologies on a
short hop of the Strategic Road Network on the M42, and within
the Midlands Future Mobility initiative . The route will connect
Blythe Valley Business Park to the UK Central Hub (Arden Cross
HS2 interchange, Birmingham International Airport and Railway
station). The outcomes from the study could inform self-driving
mobility challenges nationwide.
- Partners: Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (Lead),
Aurrigo, Syselek (UK) Ltd, Liftango Ltd, ZF Services UK Limited,
West Midlands Combined Authority, National Highways, WMG
- Grant awarded: £197,664
Commercialising Connected and Automated Vehicle Services
in the Scottish Highlands and Islands (Inverness and Isle of
Skye)
The project will study the commercial potential of a self-driving
vehicle service in the Scottish Highlands and Islands. The
service will link Inverness College University of the Highlands
and Islands Campus to key locations in Inverness and connect
ferry passengers to public transport at Uig Pier on the Isle of
Skye.
- Partners: University of Glasgow (Lead), Aurrigo, The
Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership, Darwin Innovation
Group Ltd, Highland Country Buses
Ltd.
- Grant awarded: £160,443
Dromos Connected and Automated System (Bolton)
This project will study the feasibility of an on-demand, 24/7
self-driving system running on a decommissioned railway corridor
connecting the Bolton Transport Interchange to the Royal Bolton
Hospital. It will consider the potential to expand and integrate
the service through infrastructure and mobility projects.
- Partners: Dromos Mobility Limited (Lead), Transport for
Greater Manchester Limited, Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council.
- Grant awarded: £199,760
HertsLynx Connected and Automated Mobility
On-Demand (Hertfordshire)
This project will study a self-driving service using on demand
responsive transport technology serving passengers in the
Maylands Business Park region, containing market leaders in
logistics and distribution with more than 650 businesses that
employ over 20,000 people. The routes will connect Maylands to
Harpenden Station and St Albans.
- Partners: Sustainicity Ltd (Lead), Siemens Mobility,
University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire County Council
- Grant awarded: £115,748
Integrated Mixed Traffic Mobility for Hertfordshire Essex
Rapid Transit (Hertfordshire)
This project extends a study examining the feasibility of
Dedicated Driverless Spaces for articulated buses running on
segregated routes and public roads of the Hertfordshire Essex
Rapid Transit network. The route will link Watford and St Albans
town centres.
- Partners: City Science Corporation Limited (Lead),
StreetDrone, Hertfordshire County Council, England’s Economic
Heartland.
- Grant awarded: £134,984
