Whether you like it or not, it looks like the robot revolution could really be here. First we had Chat-GPT, and now Scotland has welcomed the world’s first full-size self-driving bus service.
Stagecoach has launched a fleet of five single-decker buses along a 14-mile route from Ferrytoll park and ride in Fife and Edinburgh Park train and tram interchange. They are designed to be completely autonomous, meaning there is no driver behind the wheel.
That said, there will still be two staff members on board – a safety driver to monitor the technology and a bus captain to assist passengers with boarding, buying tickets and answering any queries. The buses are also equipped with sensors that allow them to travel on pre-selected roads at speeds of up to 50mph, and will have the capacity for about 10,000 passenger journeys per week. Not bad for bots, right?
The service will operate on a trial basis until 2025. When the high-tech vehicles were announced, Scottish transport minister Kevin Stewart said: ‘This is an exciting milestone for this innovative and ambitious project, and I very much look forward to seeing Project CAVForth take to the roads next month.
‘Our trunk road network can provide a wide range of environments as a diverse testing ground, and the ground-breaking and globally significant project will really help Scotland establish its credentials on the world stage.’
So, next time you’re in Scotland, why not hop on board and experience it for yourself? You might just be a part of history in the making.
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