Tampere to open robot bus service on November 17

A regular robot bus service between Hervantajärvi and Lintuhytti will start on route 301 in Tampere on November 17, said the City of Tampere in a press release.

The bus will serve as a link to the tram.

Unlike previous robot bus trials, the robot bus journey is subject to a charge.

All Nysse payment methods include travel card, mobile tickets and contactless payment.

At the initial stage, a safety driver will be present in the robot bus but later in the spring, the bus will be operated without a safety driver and will be monitored remotely.

The robot bus will be operated by Remoted Ltd and the contract is valid until 15 November, 2026.

“This is a very important and first-of-its-kind project, with the key objective of bringing a commercial robot bus service to the market. We will develop the service together with Nysse in stages," said Tatu Nieminen, Chief Executive Officer of Remoted Ltd.

The bus will be operated on weekdays between 6:00 am and 11:00 pm, on weekends from around 9:00 am to 10:00 pm.

There is no service on public holidays. At midday, the car has a charging break of about an hour.

In addition to the robot bus, there is a regular minibus driven by a driver. The minibus can be used during disruptions. It can also be used to replace shifts if the robot is still charging.

The bus having 12 seats will run in Nysse colours with blue and white tape.

Strollers and prams can be accommodated. The fare is paid with the Nysse ticket on board.