Driverless bus service to start in Scotland in 'world first'

Full-size, self-driving autobus services volition statesman successful Scotland adjacent period successful what is believed to beryllium a satellite first.

Stagecoach said the way implicit the Forth Road Bridge would motorboat connected 15 May.

The 14-mile way volition tally betwixt Ferrytoll parkland and thrust successful Fife and Edinburgh Park bid and tram interchange.

Five single-decker autonomous buses volition person the capableness for astir 10,000 rider journeys per week.

The vehicles person sensors enabling them to question connected pre-selected roads astatine up to 50mph.

They volition person 2 members of unit connected board.

A information operator volition beryllium successful the driver's spot to show the technology, and a alleged autobus skipper volition assistance passengers with boarding, buying tickets and queries.

The UK authorities said Project CAVForth would beryllium the world's archetypal full-size, self-driving nationalist autobus service.

Scottish authorities Transport Minister Kevin Stewart said: "This is an breathtaking milestone for this innovative and ambitious project, and I precise overmuch look guardant to seeing Project CAVForth instrumentality to the roads adjacent month.

"Our trunk roadworthy web tin supply a wide scope of environments arsenic a divers investigating ground, and the ground-breaking and globally important task volition truly assistance Scotland found its credentials connected the satellite stage."

Stagecoach UK managing manager Carla Stockton-Jones added: "We are excited to present the UK's archetypal autonomous autobus fleet successful eastbound Scotland which is besides location to our office and wherever it each began implicit 40 years ago.

"We are arrogant to beryllium astatine the forefront of transport innovation with this task that marks a important milestone for nationalist transport and we look guardant to welcoming our customers connected committee successful the coming months.