The 15-mile Stagecoach route between Ferrytoll park and Ride in Fife and the Edinburgh Park railway and tram interchange will commence on May 15.
Next month, what is believed to be a world-first, self-driving bus of full capacity will hit the road.
Stagecoach has announced that the first service over the Forth Road Bridge in Scotland will begin on May 15.
It will span 14 miles from Ferrytoll park and ride in Fife to the Edinburgh Park railway and tram interchange.
Five autonomous single-decker buses will operate on a frequent schedule with the capacity to transport approximately 10,000 passengers per week.
The vehicles’ sensors allow them to travel up to 50 mph on predetermined roads.
A bus captain will help passengers enter, buy tickets, and ask questions while a safety driver monitors the technology.
The government of the United Kingdom believes this will be the first fully autonomous public bus service in the world.
The Scottish government’s transport minister, Kevin Stewart, stated, “This is an exciting milestone for this innovative and ambitious initiative. And I eagerly anticipate seeing initiative CAVForth hit the roads next month.
Our arterial road network can serve as a testing ground for a variety of environments, and the ground-breaking and globally significant Project CAVForth will help Scotland establish its credibility on the international stage.
Carla Stockton-Jones, managing director of Stagecoach UK, added, “We are thrilled to introduce the first autonomous bus fleet in the United Kingdom in east Scotland, home to our headquarters and where it all began over four decades ago.
“We are pleased to be at the forefront of transport innovation with this project. Which represents a major milestone for public transportation, and we look forward to welcoming our customers in the coming months.”
