Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) has launched its first timetabled autonomous bus trial , the ‘Connector’, in Cambridge.
The 15-seater autonomous bus will operate between Madingley Road Park & Ride, and around the University of Cambridge’s Eddington neighbourhood and Cambridge West Innovation District.
The early phase of the trial, following virtual and on-road testing, starts 24 June with a limited number of morning and afternoon runs each Monday to Friday.
The trial passenger service is free and will seek to improve access to places of work and study, as well as community and sports facilities for those living and working in the area.
A full-scale launch of two full-size autonomous buses on a second route to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus will begin later this year.
The Connector trial is part of a national Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles programme backed by the UK government to explore how autonomous buses can be safely and effectively integrated into public transport systems.
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GCP stated that all vehicles will be supported by trained safety drivers at all times and have already undergone digital simulation and rigorous on-road testing.
Head of innovation and technology at the Greater Cambridge Partnership, Dan Clarke, said: “This is an exciting milestone, but it’s just the beginning.
“People may have already seen the bus going around Eddington and Cambridge West from Madingley Park & Ride recently, as, after the extensive on-track training with the drivers, we’ve been running the bus on the road without passengers to learn more about how other road-users people interact with the technology.
“We’re now moving gradually to the next stage of this trial by inviting passengers to use Connector.
“As with all new things, our aim is to introduce this new technology in a phased way that balances the trialling of these new systems with safety and the passenger experience.
“This will ensure we can learn more about this technology and showcase the potential for self-driving vehicles to support sustainable, reliable public transport across Cambridge.”
Achievements 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!
