Ember: Electric coach service

[38291018]

Looks like Fort William is next for Ember. https://www.facebook.com/RideEmber

Have they published a estimated date anywhere as I assume if they are posting about it on Twitter that it won't be too long till it's starting operations?

What I was meaning if they are doing anything soon, they are likely to only have enough coaches to extend the existing Glasgow service to Aberdeen.

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New post 1/11/2024

From the 100 coach Scotzeb2 funding Ember has received, 42 Yutong GTe14's are currently on order.

Pelican pushing ahead with plans - Bus & Coach Buyer

Pelican Bus and Coach called a pre-show briefing to update the market with the latest news, including a burgeoning order book and a new 14m coach

www.busandcoachbuyer.com

I'm assuming from the 42 GTe14's not all will be for Fort William unless there's multiple routes planned?

 

[Strathtay 260]

I'm assuming from the 42 GTe14's not all will be for Fort William unless there's multiple routes planned?

Aberdeen to Glasgow should be starting fairly soon I believe.

 

[38291018]

Dont know if its been confirmed of routing it may take or if its being added onto the E3 however i find that interesting as ember could run the E3 to follow the E1 from dundee to dundee to Aberdeen to increase frequency or extend the E3 from dundee via the stagecoach east scotland X7 route (mabey in competition or stopping less than current X7) giving ember 2 different routings from dundee to Aberdeen

 

[scotrail158713]

One of the comments in the Facebook post linked above asks about Inverness, and Ember reply “You won’t be disappointed”. It’s not official confirmation but it does seem Inverness is on the way at some point as well. (Attached is a screenshot of the Facebook comment referenced above)

 

[computerSaysNo]

It will be interesting to see the details of the routes Ember choose. On the Edinburgh to Aberdeen service they have a unique route by calling at Rosyth and then Forfar and Brechin.
If the Inverness route is Perth to Inverness:

• Luncarty they could easily serve
• Bankfoot would be difficult without doubling back, unless they take the old A9 from there to Birnam
• Birnam should be easy
• Ballinluig they'd have to double back but it doesn't look too far and Stagecoach do that already.
• Pitlochry should be easy
• Blair Atholl they should be able to do easily
• Dalwhinnie it looks like they could do but they'd have to double back to get back on the A9 as it looks like the local road to the north wouldn't be suitable for coaches, unless they took the main roads via Laggin but it looks like that would add quite a bit of time.
• Newtonmore and Kingussie they could easily do together
• I'm not sure if you can access Kincraig without staying on the local road all the way between Kingussie and Aviemore, which looks to be a narrow/slow road
• Aviemore you can easily do
• Carrbridge it looks like they could easily do
• Tomatin looks doable

The Fort William route will be interesting as the Citylink coach from Glasgow already stops at all the villages. I can't see how any Ember service wouldn't just be a duplication unless it took a completely different route such as via Dalmally, via Loch Laggan and the A9, or a regular service to Edinburgh.

 

[Strathtay 260]

One of the comments in the Facebook post linked above asks about Inverness, and Ember reply “You won’t be disappointed”. It’s not official confirmation but it does seem Inverness is on the way at some point as well. (Attached is a screenshot of the Facebook comment referenced above)

Well, yes that makes sense given an Inverness depot is being built as of present.

 

[GusB]

It will be interesting to see the details of the routes Ember choose. On the Edinburgh to Aberdeen service they have a unique route by calling at Rosyth and then Forfar and Brechin.
If the Inverness route is Perth to Inverness:

What makes you think that Ember will serve any of the places below? Settlements that aren't far from the A9 may have some stops, but I can't see that coaches will deviate from the main road.

• Luncarty they could easily serve
• Bankfoot would be difficult without doubling back, unless they take the old A9 from there to Birnam
• Birnam should be easy
• Ballinluig they'd have to double back but it doesn't look too far and Stagecoach do that already.

Ballinluig requires coming off the A9, reversing at the Motor Grill and getting back on the A9. It's not a massive deviation.

• Pitlochry should be easy

I agree that Pitlochry is a key point along the route. It's a tourist hotspot, but it can be a nightmare in the middle of summer. I was there a couple of years ago and there were ongoing roadworks that brought the whole town to a standstill.

• Blair Atholl they should be able to do easily
• Dalwhinnie it looks like they could do but they'd have to double back to get back on the A9 as it looks like the local road to the north wouldn't be suitable for coaches, unless they took the main roads via Laggin but it looks like that would add quite a bit of time.

Is Dalwhinnie really worthwhile? The road north from there via Laggan is suitable enough for coaches, but I don't see the point.

• Newtonmore and Kingussie they could easily do together
• I'm not sure if you can access Kincraig without staying on the local road all the way between Kingussie and Aviemore, which looks to be a narrow/slow road

Citylink used to serve both settlements and there was once enough slack in the timetable for drivers to use the "old A9". The local road is a bit twisty-turny, but it's not impassable for coaches (it used to be quite fun in the old Rapson days... )

• Aviemore you can easily do

As with Pitlochry, Aviemore is a major stop. It wouldn't make sense to omit it.

• Carrbridge it looks like they could easily do

Carrbridge is also "easy" in terms of access to the A9, but local buses serve the village and I really don't see the point of diverting what is supposed to be an express service and delaying those who really want to get from end to end.

• Tomatin looks doable

No. It's a "road end" job if anything. Local services already cover it.

 

[computerSaysNo]

What makes you think that Ember will serve any of the places below? Settlements that aren't far from the A9 may have some stops, but I can't see that coaches will deviate from the main road.

They are reasonable sized settlements currently without a direct connection to anywhere north of Pitlochry or south of Perth, and they are close to the main road which, combined with being advanced book only, means the coach could serve more people without much of a time penalty. I don't see how it's different from serving Bridge of Earn, St Madoes, Inchture, Longforgan, etc.

Is Dalwhinnie really worthwhile? The road north from there via Laggan is suitable enough for coaches, but I don't see the point.

I'd probably lean towards agreeing, although there does look to be hotels and holiday lets in Dalwhinnie, and the rail service is both not that frequent and uses diesel trains.

Carrbridge is also "easy" in terms of access to the A9, but local buses serve the village and I really don't see the point of diverting what is supposed to be an express service and delaying those who really want to get from end to end.

Again there looks to be a number of hotels and holiday lets, plus the Landmark holiday park. It would also likely be advance book only.

 

[318266]

Ballinluig requires coming off the A9, reversing at the Motor Grill and getting back on the A9. It's not a massive deviation.

Looking at Google Streetview, is the turning circle slightly up the road not easier? Depends on their reversing policies I presume.

Carrbridge is also "easy" in terms of access to the A9, but local buses serve the village and I really don't see the point of diverting what is supposed to be an express service and delaying those who really want to get from end to end.

Ember often serve places near the termini that have local services, as then it makes it both a single fare and a much shorter overall journey for the passenger. I can't imagine why they wouldn't call there.

No. It's a "road end" job if anything. Local services already cover it.

See above, although it does seem a bit small for the diversion - probably a toss-up as to whether they'd serve it or not.

Where is the planned depot again? I am curious as to whether it is far enough from the centre of Inverness to pick up more passengers between there and the centre, akin to the Bridge of Don P&R <-> Aberdeen City Centre section of the E1.

 

[Tayway]

Where is the planned depot again? I am curious as to whether it is far enough from the centre of Inverness to pick up more passengers between there and the centre, akin to the Bridge of Don P&R <-> Aberdeen City Centre section of the E1.

It's just off Shore Street according to this article – so very close to the centre. Does the Bridge of Don leg get much local traffic? I've used the Dundee to Baldovie section a few times and it's usually very quiet.

Go-ahead for new Inverness electric bus base

Ember aims to establish the new hub for charging its vehicles which will travel routes including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fort William and Aberdeen.

www.inverness-courier.co.uk

Ember, an Edinburgh-based fully-electric bus operator, aims to establish the new hub to be used as a base for charging its vehicles which will travel routes including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fort William and Aberdeen.

The proposed site is in Harbour Road, off Shore Street, and according to a report which formed part of the planning application the central location is key because the buses will need to go back to base multiple times per day to recharge due to the high mileage travelled.

A spokesman said: “Being central minimises ‘dead-leg’ mileage and ultimately will allow Ember to run more services.”

 

[318266]

Does the Bridge of Don leg get much local traffic?

I've only ever done the E1 on the first day of service, from Dundee to Bridge of Don and Bridge of Don to Edinburgh, so before there would have been much awareness out of enthusiast circles and the avid reader of a local press/facebook group. Still, a couple on here and there around Bridge of Don and the north of Aberdeen, which was good for the first day.

 

[smsm1]

I've done Bridge of Don - Dundee on a football day, and there was a significant number getting on at the football stadium north of Aberdeen city centre, so seems to pick up a reasonable number of passengers by not starting in the city centre.

 

[NIT100]

Don't have a Facebook account so struggle to look completely, but seems Ember are struggling to requit drivers for Fort William route.

 

[Volvodart]

Don't have a Facebook account so struggle to look completely, but seems Ember are struggling to requit drivers for Fort William route.

They have just announced that Fort William will start at the end of April and Oban in early summer. This is just the normal recruitment of drivers for these places.

 

[danielhogg2005]

Have they announced route details for Fort William or Oban?

 

[computerSaysNo]

Have they announced route details for Fort William or Oban?

Ember posted this on Facebook yesterday:

Team Ember will be in Fort William tomorrow!

If you’re keen to progress your career in intercity coach driving, and would like to drive our state of the art 2025 plate electric coaches between Fort William, Edinburgh and Glasgow, then please come along for a chat. We’ll be at the Nevis Centre and over the road at the An Aird car park from 10:00am tomorrow, 21st March.

Even if you’re not a driver but you’re curious to know more about our direct connections to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Airport, Dunblane, Stirling, Grangemouth and many others, come over and say hi.

To learn more about a career with Ember, click the link for more information and to apply.

Ember - Intercity Bus and Coach Driver (Full Time)

Various start dates available from mid March 2025. Ember is the UK's first fully-electric, zero-emission coach company. We launched in October 2020 and are now running multiple routes from Aberdeen to

ember.recruitee.com

So from my interpretation it looks like Fort William to Glasgow, and separately Fort William to Edinburgh. They also mention Grangemouth which isn't currently on their network so I'd guess that the Fort William to Edinburgh service will be via Stirling and Grangemouth.

 

[Stan Drews]

Don't have a Facebook account so struggle to look completely, but seems Ember are struggling to requit drivers for Fort William route.

Depending on how many they need, it could be quite a challenge.

 

[route101]

Ember posted this on Facebook yesterday:

So from my interpretation it looks like Fort William to Glasgow, and separately Fort William to Edinburgh. They also mention Grangemouth which isn't currently on their network so I'd guess that the Fort William to Edinburgh service will be via Stirling and Grangemouth.

Sounds like the Citylink 978 route with diversion into Dunblane.

 

[voidwxrranty]

Sounds like the Citylink 978 route with diversion into Dunblane.

except it’s not! the 978 goes to Oban

 

[route101]

except it’s not! the 978 goes to Oban

Yes, I know the 913 goes via Broxden and Creiff.

 

[overthewater]

The Service to Fort William will start next Wednesday AKA 16th April 2025. £23.10 for single end to end, is that cheap? It seems to only be 4 trips. Does this coach stop in Callendar, if not its missing a trick.

News

Find out what's new at Ember

www.ember.to

New Edinburgh to Fort William Service
We're launching a new route from Edinburgh to Fort William with stops in Grangemouth, Dunblane, Lochearnhead, Tyndrum and Glencoe Mountain. The route will begin on 16 April 2025 with four return services per day. We'll be adding more stops over the summer. It's just £23.10 for an adult single from Edinburgh to Fort William if you book online (whether you book weeks before or a minute ahead).

 

[NIT100]

The Service to Fort William will start next Wednesday AKA 16th April 2025. £23.10 for single end to end, is that cheap? It seems to only be 4 trips. Does this coach stop in Callendar, if not its missing a trick.

States adding more stops over the summer. Appears stopped have been spaced currently so the route doesn't have to be registered. I'm sure Callander will be added.

 

[markymark2000]

States adding more stops over the summer. Appears stopped have been spaced currently so the route doesn't have to be registered. I'm sure Callander will be added.

They can still add loads of stops if they wanted without registering, they would just have to have pick up/set down restrictions forcing people to travel over 15 miles.

 

[smsm1]

They can still add loads of stops if they wanted without registering, they would just have to have pick up/set down restrictions forcing people to travel over 15 miles.

It's currently not possibly to specify that kind of pick up and drop off restriction in GTFS which would cause problems with some journey planners.

 

[NorthOxonian]

The Service to Fort William will start next Wednesday AKA 16th April 2025. £23.10 for single end to end, is that cheap? It seems to only be 4 trips. Does this coach stop in Callendar, if not its missing a trick.

News

Find out what's new at Ember

www.ember.to

£23.10 each way seems fairly reasonable to me - a few years back I paid £39.30 for a day return (booked a few days ahead of travel) when Citylink ran a direct service from Edinburgh to Fort William. Compared with that service, the journey times are also quite noticeably quicker - around three and a half hours (varies a little by departure) - probably because the service runs via the M9/A84 which is more direct than the M8/A85.

Agree that the timetable seems a little sparse for the moment, especially with the first Edinburgh service leaving so early (04:28!) meaning there are only three westbound trips that will be useable for anyone making connections. I suppose there's always the potential to add more trips if the demand is there, to some extent this is probably a trial run before the peak season really gets going.

 

[Buzby]

There is the potential for Glasgow services to interconnect with Fort William at either Stirling or Dumblane as they share the M9 corridor here - wonder if this is planned?

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

There is the potential for Glasgow services to interconnect with Fort William at either Stirling or Dumblane as they share the M9 corridor here - wonder if this is planned?

The last departure from Fort William you can change over at Dunblane with a 20 minute wait onto the Glasgow service

 

[smsm1]

The last departure from Fort William you can change over at Dunblane with a 20 minute wait onto the Glasgow service

Note that different stops are served in Dunblane so there is a short few minutes walk between the stops if you are changing there. I wonder if people will get caught by that?

 

[Tayway]

Hopefully it will get VOSA registered soon, and the connection can be timed for Raploch in Stirling where there as an indoor shelter available during the day. I would imagine they'd also want to add at least Haymarket, Corstorphine, Ingliston (with Airport tram connection like the E1), Doune, Callander, Crianlarich, Bridge of Orchy, Ballachulish and Corran.

I do wonder how well Ember's current strategy of serving intermediate stops will transfer to the E4. The current routes are limited by how many times the bus can divert off the motorway without causing too severe a time penalty – whereas this is less of a problem on the A85 etc where you have to slow to 30mph through each village anyway. Only serving larger settlements might dissuade people changing from Citylink since they are pretty good at serving even small hamlets once into the properly rural Highlands.

 

[smsm1]

The things that keeps me with Ember over Citylink are that the site is way easier to use. Though be interesting to see how they manage as the scale up.
I can easily book at short notice without issue and extra costs, whereas with Citylink short notice singles can be expensive and it doesn't appear to be easy to move the return journey should it be needed if you are about to miss the coach, whereas that's easy to do with Ember.