Wolfurt launches Vorarlberg’s first fully automated bus service

Vorarlberg’s first fully automated public bus will begin regular service in Wolfurt on Monday, ORF reported. The ÖBB Postbus will run between Wolfurt railway station and the Campus Wolfurt business park, with trained safety staff on board as required by law.

The bus will operate on weekdays, timed to connect with S-Bahn services, and will initially be free. Its four-kilometre circular route has seven stops, serving workplaces and other destinations in the business park. Test and training runs have been under way there for several days.

The project partners, ÖBB Postbus, the state of Vorarlberg and the regional transport association, say the service will help assess automated public transport. They will monitor how passengers respond; wider use may depend on public confidence in autonomous vehicles.

The fully electric Autonomous e-CENTRO C, made by Turkish bus manufacturer Otokar, can carry up to 32 passengers and has a low-floor entrance with a wheelchair ramp. Its SAE Level 4 technology allows it to perform its driving task in its designated operating area without driver intervention. The bus has also been tested on a defined route during the Alpbach Forum.