St. Wendel starts into the future: Autonomous shuttles planned from 2028!

St. Wendel starts into the future: Autonomous shuttles planned from 2028!

The district town of St. Wendel has successfully completed the feasibility study for an innovative project that aims to introduce an autonomous, electrically powered shuttle bus. The results of the comprehensive analysis were presented at a city council meeting. The study proves that the implementation of the project is feasible and that all relevant challenges have been systematically recorded and analyzed. As part of the “Smart City Model Projects” funding program, the project is being pushed forward in collaboration with the St. Wendel district.

The planned pilot route leads from the train station via Bahnhofstrasse to the mission house and back. This route is ideal for testing the use of autonomous electric vehicles in city traffic. According to the study results, driverless shuttles could not only increase traffic safety, but also make an important contribution to the transport transition. Project manager Stefan Kretzschmar emphasizes the importance of this feasibility study: It ensures that the project can be established as an integral part of local public transport in St. Wendel in the long term.

Comprehensive support and goal setting

The long-term goal of the project is to introduce autonomous shuttles in the city, with a target launch of 2028. This occurs after all necessary technical and regulatory steps have been completed. Particularly noteworthy is the topic of “electrified city bus lines”, which is anchored in the “Agenda 2030” for mobility. The feasibility study was financed by funding from Smart Wendeler Land and is an essential part of the urban development concept and the district's local transport plan.

The “Smart Mobil” project plays a central role in the digitalization strategy of the Sankt Wendel district. Those responsible want to demonstrate the mobility of the future through this project and inspire both citizens and tourists.

Innovative technologies and future visions

Autonomous driving is currently in a development phase. The aim is to create means of transport that can drive completely autonomously without the intervention of a driver. According to the five levels of autonomous driving (SAE levels), the aim is to reach the highest level (Level 5), which should be possible on public roads in Germany in the distant future. Particularly in rural areas and on the outskirts of cities, automated vehicles can serve as a supplement to existing public transport networks and modernize on-demand transport.

These innovative shuttle solutions aim to attract new user groups who were previously dependent on private cars. By using such vehicles, more flexible connections to local public transport can be created and services can be established in areas where conventional buses are not economical. This was also confirmed by Future Sustainable Mobility.