The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) has secured an additional £1m in funding from the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) to expand its Connector project.
The new phase builds on the successful rollout of self-driving passenger transport in Cambridge West and the upcoming trial at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
Since its launch in June 2025, Connector has covered over 700 miles and carried nearly 200 passengers in real-world trials across Cambridge West.
The next phase of Connector will seek to deliver extended trials with the current AV trials at Cambridge West and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus to continue until at least March 2026.
This will include exploring how autonomous technology can support operations on both the existing guided busway and the three new busways being delivered through the GCP programme.
Testing for the potential for autonomous systems to provide precision vehicle guidance will also be conducted to improve the efficiency and flexibility of busway operations.
An Enviro200AV bus, supplied by Alexander Dennis, will be adapted with this technology and tested first on the Bristol Busway before moving to Cambridge.
The aim is to improve safety, reduce operational costs, and increase capacity by enabling closer vehicle spacing.
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An accessibility and inclusivity study will also be conducted to ensure that automated bus services meet the needs of people with protected characteristics including disabled people, older residents, and parents with young children.
Chair of the GCP’s executive board, Brian Milnes, said: “Securing this additional funding is a major vote of confidence in the work we’re doing to shape the future of transport in Greater Cambridge.
“Since Connector launched, the bus has covered hundreds of miles safely taking people around Cambridge West and Eddington.
“This is a great start and we have learnt so much about how passengers engage with autonomous technology and how it can fit into the transport system in our city.
“This funding will help us explore how cutting-edge technology can make our public transport network more efficient, more inclusive, and better connected.
“We’re not just trialling new vehicles, we’re building the evidence base for a smarter, greener transport system that works for everyone.
“From extending trials to exploring how automation can support our busways, this is about delivering real benefits for our communities today and laying the groundwork for tomorrow.”
Achievements and innovations in connected autonomous vehicles will be recognised and celebrated at the fourth annual CiTTi Awards on 25 November 2025 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector!
