Described as “a world first”, the UK Government-funded trial will see five autonomous single-deck vehicles running between Edinburgh and Fife, although regulations mean that a driver will remain on board during all journeys.

£4.35m of public funding was awarded through Innovate UK with additional investment from bus service operator Stagecoach, Transport Scotland and other organisations.

Once complete, the ADL Enviro200 vehicles will operate between Ferrytoll ‘Park & Ride’ in Fife and the Edinburgh Park Train and Tram interchange.

Buses will operate on the main road and using the hard shoulder, as well as using the dedicated public transport corridor across the Forth Road Bridge.

The autonomous services will be capable of carrying up to 42 passengers with buses running every 20 minutes.

Work on the project is expected to get under way during the second quarter of next year, with services operating from 2020.

Scotland’s Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: “The deployment of these vehicles in Scotland will bring transformative change to the way we travel and work, as well as having a positive impact on the economy, the environment and safety.

“This collaborative trial, using one of the country’s most iconic transport corridors, shows Scotland is very much open for business in this innovative sector.”

In the short-term, buses will be used in autonomous mode only within the depot environment, to carry out movements such as parking and moving into the fuelling station and bus wash.

Using self-driving vehicles within depots more widely could help improve safety, efficiency and space utilisation within the depot.

The UK government has also announced Project Apollo, which will take place in London. Led by Addison Lee, the project will see the taxi firm working with a number of software companies and will receive £8.84m towards the development of autonomous taxis, building on its existing tests in Greenwich.

Described as “a world first”, the UK Government-funded trial will see five autonomous single-deck vehicles running between Edinburgh and Fife, although regulations mean that a driver will remain on board during all journeys.

£4.35m of public funding was awarded through Innovate UK with additional investment from bus service operator Stagecoach, Transport Scotland and other organisations.

Once complete, the ADL Enviro200 vehicles will operate between Ferrytoll ‘Park & Ride’ in Fife and the Edinburgh Park Train and Tram interchange.

Buses will operate on the main road and using the hard shoulder, as well as using the dedicated public transport corridor across the Forth Road Bridge.

The autonomous services will be capable of carrying up to 42 passengers with buses running every 20 minutes.

Work on the project is expected to get under way during the second quarter of next year, with services operating from 2020.

Scotland’s Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: “The deployment of these vehicles in Scotland will bring transformative change to the way we travel and work, as well as having a positive impact on the economy, the environment and safety.

“This collaborative trial, using one of the country’s most iconic transport corridors, shows Scotland is very much open for business in this innovative sector.”

In the short-term, buses will be used in autonomous mode only within the depot environment, to carry out movements such as parking and moving into the fuelling station and bus wash.

Using self-driving vehicles within depots more widely could help improve safety, efficiency and space utilisation within the depot.

The UK government has also announced Project Apollo, which will take place in London. Led by Addison Lee, the project will see the taxi firm working with a number of software companies and will receive £8.84m towards the development of autonomous taxis, building on its existing tests in Greenwich.