Drone Technology to be Utilised to Help Solve Guildford’s Traffic Problems

Published on: 1 Apr, 2026
Updated on: 3 Apr, 2026

An AI image showing how the passenger drone could look.

By Don Grawsen

A world-first passenger drone service is being evaluated for Guildford.

Researchers are developing the concept of multi-seater, pilotless passenger drones that could transport rail passengers onwards to villages within a 15-mile radius of Guildford station.

Traffic congestion in Guildford and its associated pollution is a well-known problem and with thousands of more homes being planned for the area, experts agree that fresh thinking, utilising state of the art technology, is required and Guildford would be ideal to trial the idea.

“This is not revolutionary,” said a reliable academic source working on the project. “We are all familiar with drones and larger drones capable of carrying passengers are entirely feasible. We believe they can be pilotless but if pilots are deemed necessary to increase public confidence they could be employed, at least initially.”

One route that has been identified as eminently suitable is between Guildford and Cranleigh. A council source said: “Anyone familiar with Guildford’s traffic problems knows that the A281 simply can’t cope with the ever increasing levels of traffic. Using drones to relieve the pressure on the roads is, like all the best ideas, obvious.”

It is understood that the drone route could follow the old railway route, crossing the A281 south of Shalford and then on to Bramley and eventually Cranleigh and overcoming the problem of restoring the railway line, an idea that is unpopular with some residents living next to the line.

Direct flight time, including take-off and landing is estimated at just 12 minutes, but an interim stop at Bramley would be possible.

Drones only need small take-off and landing pads similar to helicopters. “It could even be on top of one the tower blocks to be constructed at Guildford station,” said the Surrey academic.

The concept of drone passenger services is not new. EHang, a Chinese company, is one of the leading companies developing drone potential. But there are not believed to be any examples of drone passenger services currently in operation and 12-seater drones do not yet exist. “But it is just a matter of scaling,” said the academic source.

If successful, it is believed the same technology could be used to transport goods, relieving congested roads of yet more traffic.

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