A driverless shuttle service between Sunderland’s transport interchange and its hospital has concluded after taking passengers and asking for their feedback.

The shuttle, operated by Stagecoach using technology from Oxa was created by retrofitting a Ford electric van.

It ran on a route nicknamed “the walking wounded” between Park Lane Metro and bus station up a hill to the hospital, travelling on mixed traffic roads, through junctions and around the hospital car park.

The views of passengers are being surveyed by PhD students at Newcastle University, working to one of the world’s leading transport experts, Professor Phil Blythe. This involves a survey and one-to-one interviews.

Professor Blythe will discuss the trial on a forthcoming Highways Voices podcast.

(Picture – Highways News)