Transport Department Issues Pilot License for Autonomous Vehicles Between West Kowloon and Kowloon Stations
RTHK · 3 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The Transport Department has issued its first autonomous vehicle pilot license under the Road Traffic (Autonomous Vehicles) Regulation, approving a testing project connecting the High Speed Rail West Kowloon Station and the Airport Express Kowloon Station . MTR Corporation announced it will commence testing within this month, with the goal of launching passenger and luggage transport services by the second quarter of next year . The project involves a collaboration between MTR, the Airport Authority, and Baidu, representing Baidu's first major partnership with a Hong Kong public transport operator .
Key Points
- Four autonomous vehicles will operate along routes covering Waterfront Road, Jordan Road, Ngan Wong Road, Station Roundabout South, Station Roundabout East, and Station Roundabout North
- The vehicles are left-hand drive models manufactured by Jiangxi Jiangling Group New Energy Automobile Co. under the Yichi brand (model JX6480EUABEV), the same as those used in Baidu's earlier airport island testing
- Three designated stops are planned: West Kowloon Station Exit J, Kowloon Station Exit E, and Kowloon Station Exit B
- The pilot license is valid for five years from August 18, 2024 until August 17, 2031, with authorization for operations seven days a week, all day long
- Backup operators will remain in each vehicle during testing and can take manual control when necessary
- Operators must submit monthly reports to the Transport Department detailing autonomous system failures and manual takeover incidents
Why It Matters
This initiative establishes a replicable operational model for autonomous vehicles in high-traffic, complex urban environments, serving as a foundation for integrating autonomous vehicle fleets into Hong Kong's broader public transport network . By providing seamless connectivity between the high-speed rail terminus and the airport, the service aims to attract more travellers to use Hong Kong's rail and aviation infrastructure, strengthening the city's position as a regional transportation hub .
This initiative establishes a replicable operational model for autonomous vehicles in high-traffic, complex urban environments, serving as a foundation for integrating autonomous vehicle fleets into Hong Kong's broader public transport network . By providing seamless connectivity between the high-speed rail terminus and the airport, the service aims to attract more travellers to use Hong Kong's rail and aviation infrastructure, strengthening the city's position as a regional transportation hub .