Rail, Tram and Bus Union Slams Driverless Shuttle Bus Project

BY ISABEL EVERETT

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union is slamming the City of Newcastle's Driverless Shuttle Bus Project, with the bus welcoming aboard passengers for the first time as part of a three month trial on Monday. 

The Union says the project doesn’t create substantial jobs or contribute to Newcastle’s high-capacity transport mix.

Daniel Jaggers, President of the RTBU NSW Tram and Bus Division, says savage cuts to Newcastle’s bus network, meaning many are forced to catch three different buses to get by every day, should have been considered when funding the driverless project.

The trial is being funded through a $5 million grant awarded to the City under the Federal Government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs Program.

“For years the Newcastle community has expressed deep anger and hopelessness about the hatchet job that Keolis Downer has made of their bus network. There are dozens of buses currently idling in the Depot because Keolis Downer won’t pay to put them on the road", said Mr Jaggers.

“But I’m sure the residents on Newcastle’s outskirts who are now forced to take three buses to get to work every day will be comforted by the fact they can now take a leisure ride in a shuttle going less than 20km an hour.”

The union also raised concerns about safety. 

“It’s absurd to suggest these buses are safe,” said Mr Jaggers. 

“Drivers balance speed with safety. Current technology can’t do that, as evidenced by these snail-paced trials."

However the Council says running at a speed of just 20km/hr, the vehicle uses an array of sophisticated technology, including 360-degree cameras and input sensors, to avoid cars and objects.

"The shuttle completed rigorous safety planning and testing before approval was given to operate on public roads," City of Newcastle said within a statement.

“Passengers can be assured of the safety of the vehicle and the training of our onboard chaperones who have additional qualifications to their skills as bus drivers," Keolis Downer Hunter General Manager Mark Dunlop said.

“We are very interested in the public perception around this technology and will be asking for further feedback after receiving a large number of responses to a survey last November when the shuttle was on show during the Newcastle 500."

However, the Union says they cannot see the system providing much benefit to Newcastle residents. 

“Now more than ever is the time for governments to listen to the community about what they need. Only substantial, strategic public investment can see us to the other side of the economic crisis of Covid-19," Mr Jagger said.  

"These tiny, shiny, expensive toys – which are so small they’d be lucky to fit 11 people - don’t make the cut.”

Newcastle Councillor Declan Clausen said, “This is another milestone in Newcastle’s smart city journey as we trial the future of automated transport as part of the city’s ‘living lab’ experiment." 

"With the help of Federal Government funding, the project will assess driverless vehicles in mixed traffic conditions and the role they can play in multimodal transport systems."

Novocastrians Invited to Take a Ride on New Driverless Shuttle

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Novocastrians can now catch a ride along Wharf Road on the City's new driverless shuttle as it starts a trial in live traffic conditions over the next three months.

The automated shuttle will offer free trips for up to three people at a time between the Watt Street roundabout and Nobbys Beach every weekday.

The shuttle is fully electric and can detect obstacles, measure its own movement, and determine its route through the use of sensors, cameras, and an onboard computer.

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen says the trial, part of the five million dollar Newcastle Smart City Strategy, will further the City's efforts in developing sustainable transport options.

"Although the shuttle has a capacity of eleven seats plus the shuttle chaperone, operator Keolis Downer will implement safety measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 - doors will open automatically, hand sanitizer will be available onboard, and customers will be required to register before riding the shuttle," Cr Clausen said.

Image credit: https://newcastlesdriverlessshuttle.com.au/

Union Calls For Better Consultation As Newcastle Driverless Shuttle Trials Put On Hold

BY IAN CROUCH

The Rail Tram and Bus Union is urging Newcastle Council to use the postponement of its driverless shuttle trials to consult with the community on the city's public transport needs.

Council has decided to delay the trial due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Union maintains the driverless shuttles are dangerous, expensive and won't meet the public transport needs of Newcastle, saying with social distancing, only 3 people can ride on them at the same time.

Union President, Daniel Jaggers says the money being poured into the project should be used to put cancelled bus services back on the road.

"In a growing city in desperate need of reliable, high-capacity public transport, the wasted public funds poured into this pet project are sorely needed to put dozens of cancelled bus services back on the road and closed stops back into operation," he said.

He says council needs to take the opportunity to refocus on the transport needs of the city.

"This is the perfect time for the City of Newcastle to discontinue this project before any more precious time and funding is spent, and instead work with Transport for NSW, and the community it serves, on how to improve existing services," he said.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes at the launch of the driverless shuttle trial in July 2019 Picture: zdnet.com