STL Line 13

No, that is not yet technically and legally possible. That is why we are talking about an automated bus and not an autonomous bus. Officially, the bus is at SAE level 3 of 5, which means that the bus can perform all driving tasks independently, but in unexpected situations a driver has to take over.

The bus travels at a maximum of 30 km/h in both manual and automated modes.

The bus is equipped with 6 LiDAR devices (2 for long distances and 4 for short ones) that scan the environment in real time using lasers and create a three-dimensional model of it. The bus thus "recognises" not only its environment, but also all potential moving and rigid obstacles and can thus avoid a collision.

The special thing about the "STL Line 13" is that the Toyota bus is basically a normal production road vehicle. It has been upgraded with the latest technology so that it can drive specially prepared routes independently. This is called a dual-mode vehicle. Consequently, the bus can be controlled manually as well as run automatically. Such a vehicle has never been used in Switzerland before.

Yes, the weather has no influence on the driving behaviour and safety of the "STL Line 13". Even in snowfall and heavy rain, the bus should be able to run on the route without any problems. In practice, however, this feature still has to prove itself.

No, all routes must first be programmed. Automated GPS-guided driving is not yet possible.

The aim of the new project is to gather experience for the expansion of the First and Last Mile and to develop this service together in dialogue with the users. At the same time, the vehicle is an application object for further technologies, services and business models related to automated driving. It offers interested companies and researchers the opportunity to use their own technologies on the vehicle and thereby gain valuable insights for their use and further development.

The route between the new district of Stahlgiesserei and the North Station is particularly well suited for the pilot project. The route is mainly used by residents and commuters, who are the most important target group of the project. In addition, there is an existing bus line on the route and corresponding bus stops that can be used. Some of the stops served by the "STL Line 13" are no longer served by the vbsh since the timetable change 2022/2023 and we have the opportunity to integrate them into our experiment.

The route length is optimal for this pilot operation. If everything works, it can be assumed that the technology will also prove itself on longer routes. It is possible to extend the route already during the pilot operation. However, this is not planned at the moment.

In future, smaller vehicles will be used for the development of the First and Last Mile and the associated on-demand services (a comparison with Postauto's "PubliCar" concept suggests itself). In this context, the Toyota Proace is probably at the lower capacity limit. It is therefore conceivable that larger vehicles will be used in a future pilot operation.

The duration depends heavily on the course of the project and other developments. The insolvency of the technology partner Sensible4 represents such an external development. Likewise, planned construction sites in the Mühlental from mid-2024. An end date was therefore deliberately not defined.

The Swiss Transit Lab (STL) is an association and a non-profit private-public partnership consisting of public and private sector actors. The project is supported by the Swiss Confederation, the Canton and the City of Schaffhausen. The security drivers are employees of the local bus company Weder Transport and Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich (VBZ).

Our new bus is a "normal" car that is being upgraded with the technology for automated driving. This guarantees that we can explicitly deal with the new technology and are not often slowed down by "banal" vehicle problems. Based on this, various sub-projects are being planned, which should bring us one step closer to automated driving (regular operation) on the first/last mile. These include, for example, the integration of the vehicle into a superordinate system for individual retrieval or the recording of information and corresponding business models in the passenger compartment, up to and including the ethical and legal basis. Very importantly, the further development should take place through the participation of the population.

Yes, due to the high degree of innovation, the supra-regional charisma and the future-oriented technology, the canton (government council) has decided to promote the project within the scope of its possibilities together with federal funds from the New Regional Policy (NRP). The city (city council) has also spoken out in favour of co-financing the operation.

The bus stops automatically at 6 stops on Mühlentalstrasse between the Stahlgiesserei and Schaffhausen station. A stop does not have to be requested. The stops are marked accordingly on the roadway. In addition, bus stop signs indicate the bus stops.

No, the bus can be used free of charge.

There are no rules about how long a passenger may stay on the bus. A round trip is therefore possible. However, if there is a large crowd, the security drivers may ask passengers to make room for other interested persons.

The bus has 4 seats in the back and one seat on the passenger seat. One passenger per seat applies, as there is also an obligation to wear a seat belt.

From May 2024, STL line 13 will run from Wednesday to Saturday between 10:00 and 14:00. Updates such as cancellations at short notice will be published on the website.

The bus is to be tested in as many everyday situations as possible. Consequently, passengers can also take luggage with them, as long as there is room for it and it does not obstruct or disturb other passengers. There is also the possibility of transporting larger pieces of luggage in the luggage compartment.

No, there is too little space for that.

Here, too, the principle applies that other passengers should not be hindered or disturbed. The security drivers can decide on a situational basis whether a dog can travel with them or not.

No, access to the bus with a wheelchair or pram is not possible. The STL is in contact with organisations for the disabled in order to be able to show greater consideration for people with walking difficulties in parallel or future projects. The regular VBSH line 23 is still available for people with prams or wheelchairs. In addition, the wheelchair taxi service is available throughout the city of Schaffhausen.

Autonomous driving brings enormous benefits for society, the environment and the economy. For example, it enables the development of the first and last mile and thus the expansion and flexibilisation of public transport.

The First and Last Mile is about better temporal and spatial accessibility through a more flexible public transport service to the doorstep. In particular, remote neighbourhoods and villages as well as people travelling at off-peak times will benefit. With the development of the first and last mile, the gap between individual and public transport is also closed.

The SAE level describes the degree of automation of a vehicle and ranges from level 0 (completely manual) to level 5 (completely autonomous). The bus of the "STL Line 13" starts at level 3, the goal is to reach level 4.

The technology is basically ahead of the law. Technically, test operations at SAE level 4 are already possible today and are already being carried out in private areas. However, the legal framework is still missing so that tests can also be carried out and, above all, approved in public areas. Consequently, pilot projects are currently only permitted with special approval from the Federal Office for Roads and Railways (FEDRO).

The bus has a special permit from the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) for the pilot phase. However, due to the conversion, it no longer has a series approval.

Yes, for safety reasons, a safety driver sits behind the wheel and can intervene in the unexpected case and switch the bus to manual mode.

Yes, it is compulsory to wear seat belts at all times. The safety drivers check this regularly.

There is an internal camera mounted on the rear-view mirror, but it is deactivated. The exterior cameras are also not activated and do not make any recordings. No conclusions about the identity of persons or vehicles are possible on the light profile created by the LiDARs.

Overtaking manoeuvres pose an increased safety risk in road traffic. Continuously riding in the bicycle lane can prevent the bus from overtaking cyclists or being overtaken by them (on the right). This increases safety for all road users. The procedure has been agreed with ProVelo and approved by FEDRO as an exception.