Driverless bus makes the journey to Rhine Falls

In March 2018, Neuhausen am Rheinfall celebrated a world premier: A driverless bus was fully integrated into a public transport route for the first time. The Swiss Transit Lab vehicle used for the No. 12 bus route has been running between the town center and the industrial estate for more than a year now. According to a press release, approximately 30,000 passengers have so far used the service.

Now, however, the bus route is to be extended. Since Thursday, the shuttle is traveling all the way to Rhine Falls. A total of seven bus stops are already serviced by the route. The route expansion also celebrates another world premier: for the first time ever, a public transport driverless bus is tackling an incline of 15 percent. A highly developed, four-wheel drive vehicle is being used for the extended route. At Rhine Falls, it is being put to test on the roads for the first time ever.

The overarching goal of this project is to put the driverless vehicle into regular operation after completing all the required tests. According to Swiss Transit Lab, the extended route and use of the new vehicle are important steps in this direction.

Swiss Transit Lab is a joint initiative between Verkehrsbetriebe Schaffhausen, the global systems suppliers Trapeze, its spin-off AMoTech and the unit for regional development of the canton of Schaffhausen. The founders of Swiss Transit Lab took a decision to reorganize in the form of an association back in May. This legal form should serve to take into account the increasing importance of Swiss Transit Lab. Moreover, this structure should offer greater ease of access to new companies. Recently, two new companies in the shape of p2data GmbH and PhotoGnosis GmbH have already joined the association.