ParkShuttle

Parkshuttle

The ParkShuttle is an electric driven autonomous shuttle service, which runs between metro station Kralingse Zoom in Rotterdam to business park Rivium in Capelle aan den IJssel. The system has 3 stops at Rivium (Rivium 1st, 2nd and 4th street) and an additonal stop that serves both the residential area Fascinatio (Capelle aan den IJssel) as business park Brainpark III (Rotterdam). Since the end of 2006, the ParkShuttle has been operational every business day between 6 am and 9 pm - at rush hour with a frequency of once every 2,5 minutes, otherwise at least once every 6 minutes.

The route is closed for other traffic, but it does have ground level crossings with cars, cyclists and pedestrians. The route is double-lane, with the exception of the crossings at the Interstate A16 and Highway N 210.

Features

The system works like a horizontal elevator. A shuttle can be called at the stop and there is a button in the shuttle for each stop to indicate that you want to get off, like an elevator (easier than in a regular bus, where you have to pay attention when you press the button).

In 2018 the route is 1800 meters long. There are 6 shuttles with the numbers 1-6 (administrative numbered 5801-5806). Every shuttle has 12 seats and 10 standees and drives on business days from 6 am till 9 pm. If it is not rush hour, the shuttle drives with a frequency of at least once every 6 minutes, so that some vehicles can be charged.

The vehicle if fully automatic and follows a virtual route where the position is checked based on reference points in the area. (small magnets in the road surface) The shuttles stop at a fixed location at the stops. Most stops are suitable for two shuttles behind each other. They are one-way vehicles and at both end stops they turn through an endstop loop. There is an automatic charging station charging station at metro station Kralingse Zoom. Here the batteries of the shuttles are charged every day.

The shuttles drive like line 500 according to the timetable, but that is not indicated on the shuttles. The shuttle was free of charge untill the end of 2011, due to the lack of a ticket machine and a stamping machine, later called OV chip card reader OV-chipcard and the lack of any supervisors. Since the end of 2011, OV chip card readers have been installed at the stops. No paper tickets are sold and OV chip cards can only be bought at the Kralingse Zoom metro station (at the station itself, not the shuttle stop), so that passengers must have an OV chip card already when boarding other stops.

The client is the Metropolitan area Rotterdam-The Hague (MRDH) and the operator of the ParkShuttle is buscompany Connexxion. The current vehicles have Connexxion green upholstery and are also Connexxion green on the outside.

Generation II

The first version of ther Parkshuttle ran from February 1999 till January 1st 2002 beween Rotterdam and Capelle aan den IJssel. For ParkShuttle II the route was extended, the lane became was made into a two-lane road and new vehicles were introduced with more transport capacity: ParkShuttle II can carry a maximum of 22 passangers. The system and the vehicles are supplied by 2getthere , where Spijkstaal supplied the body and the design was made by Duvedec .

On December 1, 2006, ParkShuttle II was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende. A day later the ParkShuttle was in service for public transport. Prior to that, concessionaire Connexxion had been granted a concession for the period 2006-2011. In 2011 after a new tender, the concession for a futher period of 5 years was awarded to Connexxion. This concession was extended by 2 years in 2016 until December 2018.

Shortly after the system was put into operation, a collision occured between two vehicles (without a driver) during start-up. The analysis of the incident showed that, after loss of communication at start-up of the system and after removal of the vehicle, an error was made by the supervisor as a result of which two other vehicles were allowed to enter the single lane section from different sides. The obstacle detection system did go into effect, but could not prevent the collision. In addition, one vehicle was damaged by a fire in the storage of the vehicles.

After repairing the vehicles, the ParkShuttle has been running without any significant problems ever since.

During the period of April 2011 to December 2011, the system was out of service due to the construction of a parking garage at the Kralingse Zoom station. The ParkShuttle could not be used, because the lane was blocked. A replacement bus service was used during this period. This bus service also runs in case of emergencies and drives on a lane next to the ParkShuttle, which also has emergencies stops.

The Metropolitan region Rotterdam-The Hague and the municipality of Capelle aan den IJssel have done major maintenance on the existing ParkShuttle lane at the beginning of 2017.

Generation III

On March 7, 2018, the MRDH granted Connexxion a new concession for 15 years, for the period December 2018-December 2033. This concession includes an extension of the route, renewal of the fleet of shuttles and driving in mixed traffic on some parts of the route. The supplier of the system is again www.2getthere.eu2getthere, who has worked together with the municipality of Capelle aan den IJssel for this purpose. Together they have submitted a proposal for the replacement and extension with the Marketplace for Infrastructure of the Traffic Company, which was granted early 2017. With this, the Traffic Company is responsible for 50% of the costs of realization.

In 2019 the vehicles will be replaced and the route will be extended till the Nieuwe Maas, where passengers can change to the Waterbus at the Van Brienenoordbrug stop. The ParkShuttle will be an unique connection between the Waterbus and the metro network of Rotterdam. Besides, with the re-development of the business park Rivium, where residency is allowed, the ParkShuttle also offers access to public transport to the residents. On the new route, the ParkShuttle will autonomously drive on the public road. This will be the third generation of self-driving vehicles which can drive through mixed traffic. The vehicles are lighter then before, have air-conditioning and can drive in two directions, so no turning loops are needed.

See also

• Personal Rapid Transit
• Autonomous vehicles

External links

• Vehicle specifications, see 2getthere
• Information ParkShuttle on Connexxion website
• first autonomous system, Capelle aan den IJssel
• Concession awarded for further period of 5 years