Cambridge Driverless Bus Trial Secures £1M Funding Boost

The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) has secured an additional £1 million in government funding from the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) to expand its autonomous bus trial known as the Connector project. Launched in June 2025, the trial has carried nearly 200 passengers and covered over 700 miles across Cambridge West and the University of Cambridge’s Eddington neighbourhood, with plans to extend trials to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. This new investment will extend the trial period until at least March 2026 and also fund an accessibility and inclusivity study to ensure the service meets the needs of all users, including disabled and older residents as well as parents of young children. The project aims not only to trial new autonomous vehicles but also to build evidence for integrating self-driving technology into existing and future busway infrastructure, contributing to a smarter, greener, and more inclusive public transport system. The funding is part of the UK government’s wider £150 million CAM Pathfinder programme, which supports multiple connected and automated mobility projects across the country, aiming to overcome regulatory and safety challenges and promote commercial deployment. GCP officials emphasize that this funding is a major endorsement of their work to innovate public transport, highlighting the potential benefits of autonomous technology for the community and future transport infrastructure.