Satellite sites

FINLAND, Tampere

Automated Feeder Transport Services to ​Light Rail/Tramline in Hervanta Suburb/Tampere​

Vision

The Finnish Satellite Site project started in Tampere, piloting automated feeder services to the new tram line in Hervanta under harsh northern weather. As the project expanded, new pilot sites were added in Lahti, Kuopio, and Lempäälä, integrating automated mobility with public transport and offering unique services on public streets. Focused on advancing Cooperative, Connected, and Automated Mobility (CCAM), the Finnish pilots test automated transport in mixed traffic along light rail/tram corridors, tackling the challenges of Finland’s diverse seasons. These real-world trials, across rain, snow, and sun, have provided valuable data and driven the development of resilient automated solutions. 

The Service

  • Feeder service to mobility hub/stop, free of charge ​
  • Safety driver on board​
  • No prior booking ​
  • Remote supervision & remote control centre (phase 3 and beyond)​
  • Adverse conditions

Fleet

  • 2 Toyota ProAce vans, L4, diesel​
  • 1 VTT research shuttle (Auve Tech) + 1 VTT research passenger car, both electric​
  • 3 Auve Tech ISEAUTO shuttles, L4, electric​
  • 3 Easymile EZ10 gen3 shuttle, electric​
  • 1 Ohmio Lift mini-bus, electric​
  • 1 Karsan e-Atak bus, electric​

Target passengers

Any interested passenger, from commuters to passers-by, also special users (important stakeholders) 

The Route

The three routes in Tampere, in the suburb of Hervanta. All feeding to the tram line. 

Pilot route in Lahti, feeder service connecting the city center to elderly care house

Pilot route in Kuopio, shuttle going through a campus and business area. 

Pilot route in Lempäälä, automated bus connecting a neighbourhood to the train station. 

Key Feedback

Challenges & Recommendations

Use Cases

UC1.1: Automated passengers/cargo mobility in Cities under normal traffic & environmental conditions

UC1.2: Automated passengers/cargo mobility in Cities under complex traffic & environmental conditions

UC1.4: Energy sustainable automated passengers mobility in Cities

UC1.7: Connection to Operation Centre for tele-operation and remote supervision

UC3.1 (DRT)

UC3.2 (AI services)

Local Ecosystem

Legacy

The SHOW project has been highly successful in Finland, starting in Tampere and expanding to other cities. Users have embraced automated shuttles and buses, prompting discussions with PTOs for integration into public transport. The pilots have significantly advanced Finland’s automated mobility sector, leaving a lasting legacy. The EU-funded metaCCAZE project will build on SHOW’s results, aiming to deploy automated services across Tampere and other pilot sites, integrating them as feeder services into the public transport system.