The Swiss Transit Lab in Schaffhausen (STL) is about to take another step in the development of automated mobility in public transport. With the pilot project "STL Line 13" between Schaffhausen railway station and the Stahlgiesserei area, an automated bus operation for the application of new technologies is to start this year.

With the "STL Line 13" and the automated bus operation, Schaffhausen is facing a major development in public transport. Now that the bus equipped with dual-mode technology has arrived in Schaffhausen, the final preparations for the start of the project will take place in the coming weeks. In close cooperation with the local authorities and several federal offices, under the leadership of the Federal Roads Office FEDRO, the necessary permits will be obtained. The new vehicle will be tested on the premises of Verkehrsbetriebe Schaffhausen (vbsh) as well as on the pilot route between the Schaffhausen railway station and the Stahlgiesserei area. This will allow the pilot operation to begin in regular service as part of Schaffhausen's public transport network at the end of 2022.

Pilot project "Line 13" with dual-mode technology

In 2019, the Schaffhausen Swiss Transit Lab in Schaffhausen (STL) launched its first pilot operation with a self-driving bus, integrated into the vbsh public transport network. With this experience in the background and an expanded circle of partners, the STL is implementing the next technological step in Schaffhausen: With the "STL Line 13", an automated vehicle (Level 4) will be equipped with dual-mode technology for the first time in Switzerland and used in a pilot project.

The aim of the new project is to gather experience for the first and last mile. In the pilot operation, the focus is therefore on the development and use of the service right up to the front door in close connection with the needs of the passengers. The application takes place directly in the centre of Schaffhausen between the railway station and the Stahlgiesserei area.