Project CAVForth

Project CAVForth will provide a globally significant demonstration of UK autonomous bus capability along a 14-mile route across the Forth Road Bridge between Fife and Edinburgh.

Our support for Project CAVForth demonstrates the Scottish Government’s belief that a modern transport system is fundamental to sustainable and inclusive economic growth and has the potential to deliver significant economic and societal benefits.

It will enhance Scotland’s reputation for innovation and scientific excellence and highlights that Scotland is "open for business" for CAV technologies. 

The partners developing Project CAVForth are:

  • Fusion Processing Ltd
  • Alexander Dennis Ltd 
  • Stagecoach Group plc
  • Transport Scotland
  • Edinburgh Napier University
  • Bristol Robotics Laboratory, UWE

Starting in the second half of 2020, the autonomous bus service will operate on the trunk road network from the Ferrytoll Park and Ride facility in Fife, across the Forth Road Bridge Public Transport Corridor, to Edinburgh Park. 

Travelling mostly on motorways controlled by Transport Scotland, the single deck autonomous buses will be required to safely interact with other traffic in a live road environment, negotiating junctions and bus stops while carrying fare-paying passengers at speeds of up to 50 mph.

As a partner in Project CAVForth and roads authority for most of the route, Transport Scotland will:

  • design and implement infrastructure measures required to support the scheme,
  • undertake liaison and relationships with local roads authorities and use the facilities of the Traffic Scotland National Control Centre at the south end of the Forth Road Bridge to monitor the trial in live time,
  • provide incident management response if required, and
  • facilitate education, project information and the dissemination of learning relating to Project CAVForth. 

Estimated to cost around £6.1m, Project CAVForth is part-funded by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. It is part of the UK Government’s £100 million Intelligent Mobility Fund, supporting the Future of Mobility Grand Challenge. 

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