Innovative Self-Driving Shuttle Bus Set to Revolutionize Belfast Harbor Transportation

The Innovative Vehicle: The new self-driving shuttle bus coming to Belfast's Harbour estate will hopefully be available to use by the public next month.

Launch Event: An official launch event for the Harlander self-driving vehicle was held at the Titanic Hotel on Thursday morning. It was revealed that the bus, which aims to enhance connectivity throughout the harbor, will take passengers from the Titanic train halt to the Catalyst Science Park at Belfast Harbour, with stops at Belfast Metropolitan College and the Titanic Museum along the way.

Pioneering Spirit: Dr. Theresa Donaldson, Chair of Belfast Harbour, expressed pride in introducing this innovative public transport, emphasizing Belfast's pioneering spirit and commitment to innovation.

Autonomous Future: Mark Dawson, Director of People, IT, and Digital Transformation, highlighted Belfast's leadership in autonomous transport and hopes for similar schemes in cities across the UK within the next decade. He addressed queries regarding the need for onboard staff initially, assuring that safety remains a top priority during the initial stages of the project with the aim to achieve full autonomy by 2029.

Government Funding: The initiative has secured £11m joint government and industry funding, including a significant grant from Innovate UK. This funding aims to demonstrate the real-world benefits of connected and autonomous vehicles across the UK.