Autonomous shuttle project: Adastra

In May 2025, we secured a grant of £75,000 through Connected and Automated CAM Pathfinder 1. The programme was administered by the Innovation Funding Service, and the funding was for feasibility studies in support of the government's ambition to establish a £40 billion connected autonomous mobility sector by 2040.

With our partners Smart City Consultancy Limited and Ohmio UK, our £325,000 feasibility study into the deployment of autonomous shuttles integrated with other transport options via mobility hubs (transport interchanges) will help us to understand our communities’ perceptions around the safety and operation of self-driving passenger transport shuttle services.

We have showcased the shuttle to the public, business leaders, and businesses at EVEX 2025 on Trinity Park, The Big Bus Show 2025 at Stonham Barns, Mildenhall Hub, and at East Point Pavilion in Lowestoft to raise awareness with communities across the county about connected autonomous mobility services and to gather feedback.

The shuttle and a service

• The Ohmio Lift shuttle is designed as an autonomous vehicle so there is no steering wheel or driver’s seat
• It can carry fourteen passengers at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, but it is limited to eight seated passengers with a safety operator up to 15 miles per hour during the trial
• It is anticipated that self-driving shuttles will operate as part of the whole mobility system that includes walking, wheeling, cycling, buses, trains, and shared mobility solutions such as e-scooters, e-bikes, and car clubs, in addition to privately-run cars.

For those who missed our showcase events, we would still like you to tell us via our survey how you feel about using a self-driving shuttle and how you expect a shuttle service to operate:

We will use your feedback to shape how operational shuttle services can provide the convenient and safe travel option as part of the whole mobility system to get you to the places you need and want to go to.