What is the Mi-Link project?

Mi-Link is the customer-facing name for the MultiCAV project, an ambitious 5 year project co-funded by industry and government to trial Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) as part of a Mobility as a Service (MaaS) offering. The project was funded under the CCAV “CAV 3” programme, with funding delivered through Inovate UK, to deliver an integrated MaaS trial that brings together automated transport options including a minibus, a full size bus and electric bikes, as well as existing conventional public transport, all accessible via a single journey planning platform.

Mi-Link is the first UK CCAV project aiming to deliver a public transport service using CAVs and will represent the first deployment of autonomous public transport, carrying members of the public on buses running in normal traffic conditions, in the UK.

What are the project’s aims?

The project is demonstrating the value of integrated MaaS and Connected Autonomous Vehicles through:

• Operating a connected and highly automated mini-bus and bus in mixed traffic on public roads and in public service

• Developing a journey planning platform which enables a customer to plan journeys across multiple travel modes and receive relevant updates

• Undertake a series of research projects to evaluate the various elements of the project including public perceptions and attitudes to new modes

By demonstrating the power of this technology, we hope to set a benchmark for what integrated MaaS solutions can achieve. By providing additional modes of transport for travellers to choose (i.e. through modal shift), the project aims to reduce car use for trips within the Milton Park site by 50%.

Who is funding the project?

The project is a mixture of public and private investment with assistance from the UK Government’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) through Innovate UK, joined with private investment from First Bus, Fusion Processing, Zipabout and with support from Milton Park.

Who are the members of the Mi-Link consortium and what is their involvement?

First Bus is leading this project and brings together a diverse range of partners from national government (CCAV/Innovate UK), who are part funding the trial, through to academic research (University of the West of England), local government (Oxfordshire County Council, South Oxfordshire and Vale of the White Horse District Councils), MEPC (which manages Milton Park), vehicle autonomous system manufacturer Fusion Processing, software developer Zipabout and AV specialist consultants Nova Modus – all of whom are committed to delivering a project that provides high-quality results through the development of a door to door Mobility as a Service system.

Why have you chosen Milton Park as the location for this research project?

Given the cutting-edge businesses based at Milton Park, MEPC who operate the science and technology park, were keen to explore innovative solutions that cater to the high demand for transport to and from the site. We knew that as a partnership, our consortium could offer them just that. MEPC is keen to reduce car use in and around Milton Park and already implements various initiatives to achieve that objective.

Milton Park is adjacent to Didcot which was awarded ‘Garden Town’ status in 2015 – and with that has a mandate to develop a suitable transport proposal to meet the needs of a growing population in a sustainable way, without reliance on private cars. There is a key link between Didcot Railway Station and Milton Park as an employment centre. There are substantial flows of people between Milton Park and Didcot Parkway station and these will be complemented by development of Didcot Garden Town.

When will the first mini-bus be ready to take passengers?

The minibus is currently being tested and we expect to see passenger operations on site at Milton Park in March 2023.  A second, full size autonomous bus will come to Milton Park later in 2023.

This is dependent on development plans and reaching the required safety standards prior to operation beginning. Please check this website for updated operational dates.

Why is the government investing so heavily in connected and automated vehicle projects such as Mi-Link?

Mi-link is part-funded by the Department for Transport’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. It is part of the government’s £100 million Intelligent Mobility Fund, supporting the Future of Mobility Grand Challenge.

As a key part of the UK government’s modern Industrial Strategy, the Future of Mobility Grand Challenge was announced in 2017 to encourage and support extraordinary innovation in UK engineering and technology, making the UK a world leader within the transport industries.

This includes facilitating profound changes in transport technologies and business models, to make the movement of people, goods and services across the nation greener, safer, easier and more reliable.

What makes Mi-Link different to other autonomous vehicle projects?

The trialling of a multi-modal Mobility as a Service solution using a mixed fleet of connected and autonomous public transport vehicles on public roads will be a new step for the UK.

Working closely with local planners, looking at sustainable developments not reliant on the private car, will guide the project’s future applicability. Much of the project’s focus is on undertaking research into the user engagement for such new modes.

Is there a set period for the project to last?

The project is expected to conclude at the end of June 2023.

What will happen at the end of the project? Will the autonomous mini-bus and bus be removed?

The future of the project and its vehicles depends on successful operation and on what data comes from the trial, but funding is only available to continue operation for a defined period.

How can I use the vehicle?

As we get closer to carrying passengers, more details will be available from the Bee House, local bus stops, Didcot Parkway station and on the Mi-Link journey planner.  The initial route will be a circular operation within Milton Park itself, with operations to Didcot Parkway station to begin later in 2023.

How much will it cost to use the vehicle?

Using the CAV vehicles in the trial is free, but part of the work we do will be exploring passengers’ willingness to pay to use a service like this after that date.

Where will it take me and via what route?

The transport provided as part of our project will be based on experience of demand from passengers. The routing may be varied during the trials according to patterns of passenger demand and suitability of the route for the vehicle type being used.

Will the vehicle go to the station as does the current shuttle bus?

It is intended that a link between Milton Park and Didcot Parkway station will be provided from summer 2023.

Is there a driver?

In line with current requirements, there will always be a person (a ‘safety driver’) on board our vehicles, who can intervene and take control if required.

Is it Green?

Yes, both the autonomous mini-bus and the full size bus are UK built fully accessible electric zero emissions vehicles which are charged overnight.

How safe is this project?

Safety will always be at the core of our operation and the autonomous vehicles are based on bus designs already in operation throughout the UK. 

Fusion Processing (UK experts and leaders in their field), have converted these to operate autonomously and this has required a great deal of safety planning and testing. 

Operations are run by First Bus which has vast experience of providing bus and coach services throughout the UK and Ireland with a fleet of some 4,500 vehicles.  

The operation is being managed by the existing authorised operation of First Beeline Buses Ltd.  The mandatory “safety drivers” are all fully qualified and experienced psv license holders chosen from our local pool of bus drivers.  

At all stages, from choosing the correct vehicle to assessing the routes to operate and the limitations of operation, safety has been the key driver of progress.  A Public Safety Case document is available on request by emailing multiCAV@miltonpark.com

What if the vehicle hits something?

In the event of any incident, our safety drivers and other staff will be able to assist anyone who is involved.  The project partners are obliged to report all incidents to the Department for Transport and the local highways authority and emergency services are all fully briefed on the trials that are taking place.

How does the vehicle know when to stop?

The autonomous vehicles are equipped with an array of sensors which will detect and respond to the environment around them. All vehicles to be trialled are fitted with conventional braking systems. They will observe all bus routes along the routes to be operated and the “safety driver” can over-ride this if there is no one waiting at the stop or waiting to alight. To alight, just press the bell – like you would on any other bus

How does the vehicle know where to go?

The vehicles are controlled by an operating platform which includes a pre-programmed route but is able to amend its route dynamically in response to incidents during operation – to avoid parked vehicles for instance.  During the trial the partners may vary the route to reflect knowledge of passenger demand generated through the Mi-Link and other local journey planners.

When does it run?

The service is scheduled to operate between 0700 and 1830, Monday to Saturday. 

Bus times can be downloaded from any Mi-Link bus stop using the QR code displayed on the stop.

There may be times when it cannot operate – due to adverse weather conditions, a need for vehicle maintenance or system upgrade, or when the batteries need an additional charge for instance. Any suspension of service will be advertised on this website and on the national www.traveline.info website.

The consortium members will do their best to provide advance notice of any periods when the service is not available – but remember, please, the experimental nature of this trial – we are all learning as we go along!

Will the bus work in poor weather?

Yes, it can operate in rain, at night and in foggy conditions. If for any reason the automated driving system cannot cope, the driver can take control. The service might not operate in the case of heavy snow that obscures the road surface. Please check this website and also www.traveline.info for updated real-time information.

Want to find out more information?

Please contact multiCAV@miltonpark.com if you have any further questions.