Autonomous vehicles could link Wellcome Genome Campus to Whittlesford Parkway railway station One of the UK’s first autonomous vehicle routes could be coming to Cambridgeshire, after the government confirmed funding for a link between the Wellcome Genome Campus and Whittlesford Parkway railway station. Intended to offer a safe and reliable way for people to travel to and from the expanding Hinxton-based campus, the electric autonomous vehicle route would also create a scalable model for similar uses across the country. Funding for a year-long feasibility study has been granted under the government’s CAM Pathfinder Programme. This will enable the campus to explore what is needed to run the service safely, regularly and at a sustainable cost. Robert Evans, chief executive of the Wellcome Genome Campus, said: “As we progress with our major expansion – which will see our campus triple in size over the next 10-15 years – we are looking at new transport solutions that support sustainable growth and better connectivity. “We’re delighted to have been given the green light for this study, which will look into introducing one of the UK’s first corridors for autonomous vehicles. This would not only be game-changing for the Wellcome Genome Campus, but boost growth and connectivity more widely, while also delivering a scalable model for the use of autonomous vehicles across the UK. “Government support for this study allows us to explore how autonomous technology can operate safely and reliably at scale and we are excited to get started.” Shuttle buses and coaches currently run between the campus and Whittlesford Parkway, as there is no direct public transport link. But the Wellcome Trust says a dedicated land corridor for autonomous vehicles would make it easier for workers and visitors to reach the campus, offer predictable journey times, and help to cut congestion and