The organisations behind the soon-to-end CAV Forth driverless bus trial between Edinburgh and Fife have said that the trial provided “valuable insights” into driverless technology.
The service on a 14-mile route will end next month, with low passenger demand being blamed.
Stagecoach’s innovation manager, Steven Russell, told the Courier newspaper this was “aligned with the project’s funding timeline”.
“The route for the trial was selected pre-Covid to serve a busy business park,” he said.
“Commuting patterns have shifted significantly post-pandemic and this area has seen reduced activity.
“We did not see sufficient demand to continue the Ferrytoll to Edinburgh Park route beyond the project’s live demonstration phase.
“The trial has provided invaluable insights into autonomous technology and its potential for future applications.
“The partners remain committed to developing self-driving technology and exploring how it can enhance public transport.”
He didn’t confirm whether the service would ever return.
Greig Mackay, the Scotland director at Bus Users UK, told the paper: “It was always going to have limited appeal.
“Most passengers use more direct bus services into Edinburgh like the X55 or X58.
“That’s the primary reason why patronage wasn’t high on the route.
“It was always just a trial project and it has achieved the highest patronage that it could.
“The technology is still in its infancy and there weren’t many alternative options for routes because the quality of many roads in Scotland isn’t good enough.
“The buses need to be able to recognise the lines on the roads and read the signs.”
(Picture – Highways News)
