Autonomous bus trial starts at Oxfordshire science and technology park

Trials have started in Oxfordshire for the UK's first-ever zero emission autonomous bus operating on public roads.

Operating at the Milton Park business, science and technology centre near Didcot and Abingdon, which is home to 250 companies and 9,000 employees, the fully electric service marks the start of the final stages of the five-year MultiCAV research project which is due to run to the end of 2023. Plans should see the service by then connected with Didcot Parkway Railway station, a key Oxfordshire transport hub.

During the trial the 16-seat, single-decker bus will have a safety driver on board at all times to provide a personalised service and information to passengers.

The £4.3m project has been funded by a £3m grant DfT’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), through Innovate UK, alongside a commercial and private sector partnership.

Part of the Mi-Link green travel programme, the Milton Park Circular service 1 is being operated by project consortium leader First Bus, alongside Fusion Processing, Oxfordshire County Council, University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) and Zipabout, with Milton Park as the host location.

Graham Parkhurst, Professor of Sustainable Mobility and Director of the Centre for Transport & Society, UWE Bristol commented, “Much investment in recent years has gone into developing autonomous private cars, but that approach will not solve the critical problem of the transport sector’s contribution to climate change.”

Jim Hutchinson, CEO at Fusion Processing added, "Our market analysis indicates that the commercial vehicle segments are where we will see autonomous vehicle technology first used in large scale deployments.”

Janette Bell, Managing Director at First Bus, said, "The launch of the UK’s first zero emission autonomous vehicle is a stellar example of how technology can support modal shift with wide partnership working between local authorities, operators and local business.

“First Bus serves millions of customers in the UK, and we know that so many of our customers take the bus because they care about our planet and reducing their carbon footprint. We're excited to now be able to offer them an even greener and quieter way to travel, and we cannot wait to hear some feedback on the new buses.”

Buses Minister Richard Holden MP was among the first to travel on the autonomous bus service as part of a special demonstration. He said, “It’s thrilling to see our £3 million investment help British firms and engineers pioneer new, exciting ideas to achieve our vision of a truly efficient and sustainable transport network.

“The launch of the UK’s first autonomous, zero-emission bus today is yet another key step towards achieving Net Zero, creating high-wage, high-skilled new jobs and opportunities while truly levelling up transport across the country.”

Philip Campbell, Commercial Director at MEPC Milton Park said, “The MultiCAV trials represent a landmark step in the future of green autonomous travel. Given the array of innovative life science and tech companies based at Milton Park, it’s fitting that the next generation of passenger transport is taking shape here.

“While the trials are of national significance, they are also an important step in encouraging people across Milton Park, Didcot and wider South Oxfordshire to travel in a more sustainable way - a critical pillar of the Park’s 2040 Vision.