“The technology is now sufficiently mature to initiate trials in actual bus operations on public roads, making the project one of the first of its kind in Europe with buses this size,” says Karin Rådström, Head of Buses and Coaches, Scania. “The project will provide a wealth of information in the further development of large autonomous buses before a full-scale introduction.”
The trials will be conducted in two stages: initially without passengers, and then welcoming commuters on board. Safety being a top priority throughout the trials, the buses will have a safety driver to monitor operations and assist passengers.
“At Nobina, we’re highly engaged in establishing what we believe will be an important part of future public transport,” says Henrik Dagnäs, Managing Director, Nobina Sweden. “These trials will provide a great deal of insight and experience, going forward, concerning the practical everyday aspects of managing and operating autonomous buses and enabling more people to travel by public transport. The demands on autonomous buses will not differ from those in other operations, including reliability, safety, and availability.”
| Model | Scania Citywide LF (low floor) |
| Length | 12 m |
| Powertrain | Electric |
| Charging technology | Depot charging |
| Capacity | 80 passengers, of which 25 seated |
The two Scania Citywide LF electric buses will connect the rapidly expanding new residential area Barkarby, approximately 20 kilometers from downtown Stockholm, with a nearby metro station. The buses will be in service along a new dedicated 5-kilometer route with four stops. Initially, approximately one kilometer is planned to be driven autonomously. During the second phase of the trials, it is expected that around 300 passengers will make daily use of this service.
Traffic and control systems for the autonomous buses will be jointly managed by Scania and Nobina. The development project has already started and the trial period is planned to begin in 2020. Throughout the trials, data will be collected, relating to average speeds, uptime, on-time performance, deviation response, and passenger satisfaction, among others.
Several innovative public transport projects are already underway in Barkarby, which has been described as the world’s most modern city-traffic system. Projects include Europe’s first self-driving electric buses in regular scheduled traffic, Bus Rapid Transit infrastructure and vehicles, and new digital solutions—all in a collaboration among Region Stockholm, Järfälla Municipality, and Nobina.