Cambridge moves closer to commercial deployment of driverless buses

Cambridge is closer to introducing commercial driverless bus services than any other city in the UK and much of Europe, according to the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP).

The authority plans to extend its autonomous vehicle trials until June 2028, with the long-term goal of deploying self-driving buses on Cambridge’s guided busway network.

The project is currently being reviewed by the GCP’s executive board, which will meet this week to discuss the next stage of testing and potential rollout.

Autonomous bus trials underway

The 15-seat driverless “Connector” buses are currently operating on trial routes linking key locations in Cambridge, including:

• Cambridge West Innovation District

• Cambridge Biomedical Campus

• Madingley Road Park & Ride

• Babraham Road Park & Ride

The vehicles run on fixed loops and are equipped with cameras, sensors and safety systems that allow them to detect obstacles and stop automatically if required. A trained safety monitor remains on board during the trials.

The technology has also been tested outside Cambridge, with a separate trial on a busway in Bristol.

Preparing for busway operation

The next phase of the programme will involve testing the vehicles on a dedicated test track designed to replicate Cambridge’s guided busway environment.

If successful, the autonomous buses will then be trialled directly on the city’s busway routes.

Early trials have already highlighted several operational issues that need further development, including:

• Ticketing systems

• Passenger information

• Incident management procedures

• Transparency around safety features

Accessibility has also been flagged as a key concern, particularly for passengers with disabilities. A report assessing how the system can serve people with protected characteristics is currently being prepared.

Potential benefits for public transport

The GCP believes autonomous buses could improve public transport services across Cambridgeshire, particularly by allowing operators to run services for longer hours or on routes that are currently not commercially viable.

The authority also says the technology could help reduce operating costs and improve safety over time.

Funding and development

The autonomous bus project began in 2021 and has received several rounds of government funding.

In 2023, the scheme secured £4.35 million from the government’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, followed by an additional £1 million grant in 2025.

The overall project has a value of £7.8 million, with the remaining funding provided by partners including local bus operator Whippet.

The partnership has also submitted a bid for £4 million in additional funding to support further testing between summer 2026 and summer 2028.

According to the GCP, the project has attracted international attention, with visitors from Europe, the United States and Japan travelling to Cambridge to see the driverless buses being trialled.