TfL and Metroline say driverless bus in viral depot video was a one-day test

TfL and the operator Metroline say that a driverless bus filmed inside a London depot was taking part in a feasibility test that lasted a single day. Neither organisation is planning more self-driving bus trials, and neither intends to put such buses into passenger service.

The clip appeared on TikTok on 4 September 2026. It was posted by an account called Lisathebusdriver and shows the bus apparently steering itself around parked cars in a TfL depot. Since then, some drivers have said they fear for their jobs.

What the driverless bus trial in London depots involves

Fusion Processing built the technology, and several government departments paid for it. The “no users in charge” trial started in 2025. Since June that year, the system has been used to help park buses at Metroline and TfL depots. It is limited to depots and the way they are laid out.

A Metroline spokesperson said the demonstration was part of a feasibility study funded by Innovate UK. The study is looking at whether automated vehicles could help Vision Zero, the goal of ending all deaths and public transport injuries by 2041. The spokesperson said the test took place in one garage, a safety driver was on board throughout, and a report on the findings will be published shortly. TfL said it shares Metroline’s position.

Outside London, Fusion Processing has started a passenger service in Cambridge, where a safety driver sits in the cab.

Why some London bus drivers are concerned

James Rossi drives buses and is a GMB member. He is also the Green Party’s liaison with the trade unions. He believes the depot trials could set a dangerous precedent. He said Metroline is trialling driverless buses from April to April next year and could roll them out across its fleet if it is satisfied with the results.

Mr Rossi said that would affect 24,000 bus drivers in London. In his view, when a trial goes well at one company, the others tend to copy it. Drivers would then be left to check tickets, close the doors and make an emergency stop if needed. “You still have to have a bus operator,” he said.

He noted that an engineer can be seen at the front of the bus in the video. According to Mr Rossi, the engineer is not driving and is on board only as a precaution.