Ember: Electric coach service

[awsnews]

Back in October Ember stated that services to Glasgow, Fort William and Oban were on their shortlist for 2021. It is in this article from Route One:

Ember: A watershed moment for the UK coach industry - routeone

Start-up Ember has attracted significant mainstream attention for its work in establishing the UK’s first scheduled coach service that is served by zero-emission vehicles. The route, between Dundee and Edinburgh, went live on 1 October. It uses two battery-electric Yutong TCe12s. But what is the...

www.route-one.net

 

[route101]

Back in October Ember stated that services to Glasgow, Fort William and Oban were on their shortlist for 2021. It is in this article from Route One:

Ember: A watershed moment for the UK coach industry - routeone

Start-up Ember has attracted significant mainstream attention for its work in establishing the UK’s first scheduled coach service that is served by zero-emission vehicles. The route, between Dundee and Edinburgh, went live on 1 October. It uses two battery-electric Yutong TCe12s. But what is the...

www.route-one.net

Can see them doing a Glasgow to Dundee service, I suppose they do have cheaper fares than Citylink. The Glasgow to Dundee fares are quite high, cheaper to Perth.

Fort William and Oban interesting, used to be summer service that way.

 

[MotCO]

Can see them doing a Glasgow to Dundee service, I suppose they do have cheaper fares than Citylink. The Glasgow to Dundee fares are quite high, cheaper to Perth.

Fort William and Oban interesting, used to be summer service that way.

Dundee to Fort William is about 125 miles (around 200km). This means that the coaches will need to be recharged at each end, unlike the Dundee to Edinburgh trips. The Route One article (https://www.route-one.net/operators/ember-a-watershed-moment-for-the-uk-coach-industry/) states that one of the benefits of the Dundee to Edinburgh trips is that if a coach is delayed, the coaches can cope with only a quick partial charge - not sure if that would work on the longer journey.

 

[scotrail158713]

I'm going up to Dundee this Saturday so have decided to give this a try. Loadings appear to be mixed, judging by the number of seats available 48hrs in advance. Saturday morning in Edinburgh direction in particular seems to be heaving with just 1 seat left on the 07:50, and the 10:23 sold out. Overall there's only a few services all day that are yet to sell a seat.

 

[Journeyman]

I'm going up to Dundee this Saturday so have decided to give this a try. Loadings appear to be mixed, judging by the number of seats available 48hrs in advance. Saturday morning in Edinburgh direction in particular seems to be heaving with just 1 seat left on the 07:50, and the 10:23 sold out. Overall there's only a few services all day that are yet to sell a seat.

That's good to hear. I'm glad they're doing well.

 

[MotCO]

That's good to hear. I'm glad they're doing well.

I must admit I am pleasantly surprised that they are filling most of their seats. Are they still doing social distancing so that a 'full' coach is actually 25 seats, are their prices really competitive, or is it the green aspects which attract the custom?

 

[GusB]

I must admit I am pleasantly surprised that they are filling most of their seats. Are they still doing social distancing so that a 'full' coach is actually 25 seats, are their prices really competitive, or is it the green aspects which attract the custom?

The prices seem to be very competitive. It's £7.50 single with Ember. Citylink is showing £18.60 single and Stagecoach is £15.50, although their Dayrider is £9.

 

[scotrail158713]

Are they still doing social distancing so that a 'full' coach is actually 25 seats

Yep - 20 seats. So I suppose “full” is only 50%.

 

[route101]

I'm going up to Dundee this Saturday so have decided to give this a try. Loadings appear to be mixed, judging by the number of seats available 48hrs in advance. Saturday morning in Edinburgh direction in particular seems to be heaving with just 1 seat left on the 07:50, and the 10:23 sold out. Overall there's only a few services all day that are yet to sell a seat.

They operate services into the night. I wonder how busy they get. I used ember from Dundee to Edinburgh last year; nice coaches. £7.50 if you buy on day or in advance. I do find Citylink quite expensive.

 

[Jordan Adam]

They operate services into the night. I wonder how busy they get. I used ember from Dundee to Edinburgh last year; nice coaches. £7.50 if you buy on day or in advance. I do find Citylink quite expensive.

If you book at least a day in advance through the Megabus website you can get fares between Dundee and Edinburgh on Citylink services for £6.40.

 

[GusB]

The next round of ScotZEB funding has already been mentioned in the First Aberdeen and Glasgow threads, but having now had the chance to read through the articles, I noted that £5.56m has been earmarked for 26 vehicles for Ember.

Scots Government awards £62m in ScotZEB - Bus & Coach Buyer

The Scottish Government has awarded over £62 million through the first phase of the Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB). This is the largest investment made in Scotland to decarbonise buses, supporting the Scottish Government’s Mission Zero ambition for transport. It will support...

www.busandcoachbuyer.com

Operators awarded funding:​

• Bluebird Buses Ltd – £3,066,547 – 13 vehicles
• Craig of Cambeltown – £2,409,294 – 10 vehicles
• Dumfries and Galloway Council – £633,934 – 4 vehicles
• Ember Core – £5,562,126 – 26 vehicles
• Fife Scottish Omnibuses – £7,329,923 – 32 vehicles
• First Aberdeen & First Glasgow – £18,599,858 – 74 vehicles
• Highland Country Buses – £5,834,978 – 25 vehicles
• Houston Coaches – £368,413 – 4 vehicles
• McGills Bus Service – £9,086,933 – 41 vehicles
• Shuttle Buses – £485,955- 5 vehicles
• Stirling Council – £595,404 – 3 vehicles
• Western Buses – £8,029,890 – 39 vehicles

A variety of bus sizes, from minibuses to double decks, are being supported. All awards also include support towards the charging infrastructure, in some cases the charging infrastructure will support a greater number of vehicles than the number of buses shown in the table.

I remember seeing it mentioned previously that other services would eventually be on the cards. It'll be interesting to see what their next move will be.

 

[Jordan Adam]

The next round of ScotZEB funding has already been mentioned in the First Aberdeen and Glasgow threads, but having now had the chance to read through the articles, I noted that £5.56m has been earmarked for 26 vehicles for Ember.

Scots Government awards £62m in ScotZEB - Bus & Coach Buyer

The Scottish Government has awarded over £62 million through the first phase of the Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB). This is the largest investment made in Scotland to decarbonise buses, supporting the Scottish Government’s Mission Zero ambition for transport. It will support...

www.busandcoachbuyer.com

I remember seeing it mentioned previously that other services would eventually be on the cards. It'll be interesting to see what their next move will be.

If I'm not mistaken they still have 4 Arrivals on order from a previous round of funding too. So 30 vehicles due in total!

 

[Volvodart]

36 as the previous award was for 6 single deck Yutong, 4 single deck arrival buses and infrastructure.

 

[Jordan Adam]

36 as the previous award was for 6 single deck Yutong, 4 single deck arrival buses and infrastructure.

At least two of those Yutongs have already been delivered (SG71OTA & SG71OTF).

It'll be interesting to see what they plan to use all these buses for. Hopefully it'll be on routes that aren't presently covered rather than just duplicating existing services.

 

[sannox]

Ember got planning permission for a depot and charging station in Paisley. The planning number and details are 21/1762/CL

21/1762/CL | Use of land for the parking and charging of electric buses (class 6) | 47 Mcfarlane Street Paisley PA3 1SA

Link supplied by @borage - thanks

 

[Marty82]

Looks like Ember will be starting service from Aberdeen to Edinburgh and Glasgow from this proposed depot.

https://publicaccess.aberdeencity.g...s.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=R8VQ8KBZLJY00

 

[MotCO]

Looks like Ember will be starting service from Aberdeen to Edinburgh and Glasgow from this proposed depot.

https://publicaccess.aberdeencity.g...s.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=R8VQ8KBZLJY00

The attachment also refers to the access to the site by a 15m vehicle. Does this mean the yard will be using vehicles of this size, or is this to 'future proof' the application?

 

[markymark2000]

The attachment also refers to the access to the site by a 15m vehicle. Does this mean the yard will be using vehicles of this size, or is this to 'future proof' the application?

In the planning statement, it says

Swept path analysis has been conducted on the entire route into the site to ensure it is suitable for up to a 15m bus, the largest rigid bus permitted in the UK. At the moment, Ember uses buses up to 12.4m in length and has no plans to increase this.

Interesting that they are going for overhead charging, not plug in like the current coaches.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Presumably they will send a vehicle to to Edinburgh or Glasgow and recharge it before sending it back as I somehow doubt they would have the range for a return trip?


Providing this is a good bit faster than either Scotrail's dangerous 40-year old HST or the CityLink and Megabus offerings then they are onto a winner.

 

[PG]

Providing this is a good bit faster than either Scott rails (dangerous in my opinion) 40-year old HST or the CityLink and Megabus offerings then they are onto a winner

Fixed that for you

 

[Stan Drews]

Presumably they will send a vehicle to to Edinburgh or Glasgow and recharge it before sending it back as I somehow doubt they would have the range for a return trip?


Providing this is a good bit faster than either Scotrail's dangerous 40-year old HST or the CityLink and Megabus offerings then they are onto a winner.

I’m not sure how they could be faster than the current Citylink and Megabus direct offerings between the major cities.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

I would think the Paisley depot would land the company in good stead for operating a direct Dundee to Glasgow Airport service, which isn't currently offered.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Not serving Dundee city Centre on the Aberdeen service would help timewise, I don't know Dundee well but there must surely be somewhere in the suburbs with good connections where it could call instead?

 

[Jordan Adam]

Not serving Dundee city Centre on the Aberdeen service would help timewise, I don't know Dundee well but there must surely be somewhere in the suburbs with good connections where it could call instead?

Ninewells?

I'm not sure if there's a need for expresses from Aberdeen to Glasgow though as it's already well covered by Citylink. Aberdeen to Falkirk & Stirling does seem one route that's left out, albeit i'm not sure how much demand there would actually be for it.

Another route to me that often seems ignored is a slow service from Aberdeen to Dundee via Stonehaven, Laurencekirk, Brechin & Forfar. Currently there's not even a link between Laurencekirk and Brechin, you're forced to go via Montrose.

 

[InOban]

I would think the Paisley depot would land the company in good stead for operating a direct Dundee to Glasgow Airport service, which isn't currently offered.

Why would there be a demand for a Dundee to Glasgow Airport service?

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Why would there be a demand for a Dundee to Glasgow Airport service?

Probably the same reason that there's demand for a Dundee to Edinburgh Airport service

 

[InOban]

Except that anywhere you might want to fly from is available from Edinburgh which is much nearer.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Except that anywhere you might want to fly from is available from Edinburgh which is much nearer.

Good point well made

 

[PG]

Another route to me that often seems ignored is a slow service from Aberdeen to Dundee via Stonehaven, Laurencekirk, Brechin & Forfar. Currently there's not even a link between Laurencekirk and Brechin, you're forced to go via Montrose.

Can't see that being in Ember's sphere of operation, as it's basically a local bus service with end to end passengers using faster direct services. Nearest I can think of was almost 30 years ago when Strathtay ran one Saturday afternoon journey northbound as far as Stonehaven which changed service number at Forfar. Prior to that Northern's 104 which took over 3 hours to go between the two cities.

 

[Marty82]

Not serving Dundee city Centre on the Aberdeen service would help timewise, I don't know Dundee well but there must surely be somewhere in the suburbs with good connections where it could call instead?

I'd say Camperdown Leisure Park would be a good location if they could do a deal with the landlord. Just off the Kingsway at a grade separated junction.