Would you travel on a self-driving bus around Glasgow?

Self-driving buses could be introduced in Glasgow to connect major parts of the city to meet the needs of locals.

The Glasgow Automated Mobility Mass-transit Accelerator (GAMMA) is conducting a feasibility study over the introduction of the service across selected routes in the city centre and surrounding areas.

The project will be tested on selected rural, peri-urban and urban routes designed to connect major points of interest, including employment hubs, healthcare services, recreation venues and key transport interchanges.

These routes would include Glasgow Central and Queen Street, and Buchanan Bus Station.

The project aims to design a “commercially viable autonomous bus service that meets the real needs of the people of Glasgow”.

The study has received funding and support from the UK Government through the £150m Connected and Automated Mobility CAM Pathfinder Feasibility Studies (FS) Competition.

Ash Dowler, senior innovation and net zero consultant, DG Cities, said: “This project is an exciting step towards understanding how autonomous buses can truly serve Glasgow’s people and places.

“As a consultancy which has helped cities across the UK harness the potential of new technology and data to improve the lives of residents, we are keen to explore how we can work with our partners, including Glasgow City Council, to tackle some of the biggest social and environmental challenges facing those who live, visit and work in the city.

“It’s fantastic to kick off this important work with such a great team.”

The UK Government wants to create a £40bn CAM sector and over 6,500 jobs by 2040.

Mark Cracknell, programme director at Zenzic, said: “We are thrilled to announce the GAMMA project, spearheaded by DG Cities, ZF and Admiral Insurance, as one of the fourteen exciting CAM Pathfinder Feasibility Studies taking place across the UK.

“The deployment of Connected and Automated Mobility solutions in our towns and cities holds incredible promise – enhancing accessibility, reducing emissions, and fostering a transport network that is both reliable and inclusive. The GAMMA project will serve as a pivotal example in showcasing those benefits.

“We are looking forward to working with the project consortia as they further develop their business case, demonstrate the commercial readiness of the service, and provide vital insight into the opportunities presented by the deployment of CAM solutions in regions throughout the UK.”