A PIONEERING new project bringing automated shuttles to the city which will take passengers between Coventry rail station and Coventry University campus has secured government and industry funding.
This route forms part of a wider project which is being overseen by a regional consortium led by Conigital.
The Multi-Area Connected Automated Mobility (MACAM) project will also see a route between Birmingham International rail station and Birmingham Business Park through the National Exhibition Centre rolled out.
A mixed fleet of 13 automated shuttles will serve the two new routes, and the scheme will be supported by a new centralised Remote Monitoring Teleoperation (RMTO) centre.
Operated by Transport for West Midlands, the RMTO centre will monitor the automated vehicles, and using 5G connectivity it will be able to control them when required.
The project aims to make self-driving vehicle operations commercially viable and to reduce technology and operator costs.
Coventry City Council’s cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, Coun Jim O’Boyle said: “We are extremely pleased to be involved in this project which will further develop the way connected and autonomous vehicles will help revolutionise the way we travel in the future.
“This is an emerging sector which will create jobs and opportunities for local people, supporting the economic success of the city.
“Working with our partners, the city and region are really leading the way here, not least because we have the industry expertise to drive this forward much like our other pioneering projects including Very Light Rail.”
