Skip to main content

Driverless ParkShuttle to continue operations in the Netherlands

2GetThere’s ParkShuttle driverless vehicle, which has been operated by Connexxion at the Rivium business park in Capelle aan den IJssel in the Netherlands since 1999, will continue running for at least two more years. The contract has been extended until 2018 by the Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague (MRDH) and Capelle aan den IJssel plans to renew the system and expand it once the concession runs out.
November 8, 2016 Read time: 2 mins

8172 2GetThere’s ParkShuttle driverless vehicle, which has been operated by Connexxion at the Rivium business park in Capelle aan den IJssel in the Netherlands since 1999, will continue running for at least two more years. The contract has been extended until 2018 by the Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague (MRDH) and Capelle aan den IJssel plans to renew the system and expand it once the concession runs out.

During its 17 years of operation, the shuttle has carried over 2,000 passengers per day and the vehicles currently in operation have each travelled over 200,000 kilometres.

Passenger appreciation, combined with the positive influence of the system on the business park, is the main reason for the extension; a recent survey of passengers indicates that the ParkShuttle compares favourably with a bus service in terms of reliability, operating hours, waiting times and passenger information.

The initial extension will be towards a new waterbus stop, which will also house am electric cycle rental facility. The route to this location runs over public roads, amongst manually driven traffic, meaning that the ParkShuttle is likely to be the first autonomous system operating in mixed traffic without actually featuring a safety driver or steward on-board.

Several other locations within the MRDH region are now being considered for autonomous transit is being considered.

2getthere is currently developing its third generation automated vehicle, incorporating the sensory systems required to be able to drive in mixed traffic. The new vehicles are lighter, completely bidirectional and feature air-conditioning. The first prototype will be available at the end of January 2017 and 2getthere is discussing their use for the contract extension with the city, MRDH and Connexxion.

Related Content

  • May 21, 2013
    Dutch tram company opts for Arcontia smart card ticket validators
    Swedish contactless smart card supplier Arcontia International is to partner with IT service provider Telexis and Atos Worldline to provide The Hague’s public transport company, HTM, in the Netherlands with the Telexis e-ticketing solution based on Arcontia’s contactless smart card validators. The contract includes the installation of 720 ARC3300 T5 validators on board trams operating in the city. With enhanced user interface and contactless features, the validator enables passengers to pay fares more quick
  • March 24, 2017
    South Australian government announces first round of autonomous technology funding
    Seven projects will share in US$4.2 million (AU$5.6 million) from the first round of funding from the South Australian government’s Future Mobility Lab Fund to drive local development of autonomous vehicle technology. Autonomous cargo pods for the Tonsley Innovation Precinct and driverless shuttles for Flinders University students are also among the projects to win funding, with other projects to be announced soon. Transfers between Adelaide Airport’s terminal and long-term car park are set to go driv
  • July 31, 2012
    Dubai metro - the world's longest automated rail system
    David Crawford reviews the recent opening of Dubai's Red Line. The US$7.6bn Dubai Metro, the Phase I Red Line of which started partial operation in September 2009, will be the world's longest driverless rail system on its planned completion in 2011. With a total length of some 75km, it will then overtake the 68.7km Vancouver SkyTrain and be able to carry over 1.2 million passengers on a typical day.
  • February 3, 2012
    South Africa's first multi-lane free-flow tolling top of the line
    Kapsch's Kjell Arnesson talks about the first multi-lane free-flow tolling project in South Africa. In South Africa, installation is ongoing as part of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) of the country's first Multi-Lane Free-Flow (MLFF) tolling system.