Hong Kong has approved an autonomous-vehicle trial that links its high-speed rail hub to its airport.
The Transport Department said on 11 August it had granted one autonomous-vehicle pilot licence under Section 4(1) of the Road Traffic (Autonomous Vehicles) Regulation (Cap 374AA), approving a trial between the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and the Kowloon Station of the Airport Express.
The project involves four private cars operating autonomously. During the trial a standby safety operator will ride in each vehicle and can take control when needed. All pilot vehicles must display the department’s autonomous-vehicle label so other road users can identify them.
A department spokesman said the project can demonstrate the safety, stability and operational feasibility of autonomous technology in high-footfall, complex traffic environments. By running successfully in such a multi-modal transport hub, the project builds a scalable operating model to serve as a foundation for integrating autonomous fleets into the wider public transport network.
Once in regular operation, the spokesman added, the service would create a seamless autonomous connection between the HSR station and the Airport Express, giving travellers a convenient option and lifting the travel experience, drawing more people to use the high-speed rail and Hong Kong International Airport.
Under the autonomous-vehicle regulation, the department has now approved nine pilot licences covering 69 participating vehicles, including private cars, private minibuses and public light buses.
Editor’s note: This is an adapted translation of the original Shenzhen News report. It has been trimmed and restructured for readability for an international business audience.