Shared Autonomous Vehicles in rural public transportation systems

This article focuses on the economic potential and the consequences on the regulatory context of Shared Autonomous Vehicles (SAV) used in a regional public transportation system. Based on an experimental case study two on-demand scenarios were developed for the Swiss rural area of the Töss Valley. Scenario 1 replaces the current public transportation by SAVs; scenario 2 operates with a SAV fleet instead of buses and integrates the regional railway. Data sources are an overall traffic model and the current business figures of the public transportation. The results suggest that scenario 2 is, out of an economic and traffic system view, an attractive solution compared to line-bound traditional bus and train systems. In both scenarios, a cost-covering service may be possible due to an increase in productivity and demand. Regarding the present regulatory context of the Swiss public transportation system, we propose to change the system of call for tenders for single public transportation lines towards a call for tender for entire regions. This paper contributes to the scholarship discussion on the role of the final provider of new services and which adaptions of current regulations have to be targeted in the future