Ember: Electric coach service

[ecb124]

Just the 2025s with hopefully plans to roll them out to older buses in future

Driver said a few 24’s have them also but plan to retrofit due to the speed improvements when boarding passengers.

Good to know, thank you thank you both!

 

[Buzby]

Looking at trying the E5 between Inverness and Aberdeen this weekend.

You might not get there….. it’s the E7!

 

[Highland050261]

A Photo from myself of the first E7 Arriving in Inverness this morning.

20250605_072116

Explore ricky.kane's 4101 photos on Flickr!

flic.kr

 

[318266]

If they make an Inverness -> Fort William route, then you could in theory do a fair loop of Scotland (Glasgow -> E5 -> Fort William -> E8? -> Inverness -> E7 -> Aberdeen -> E1 -> Dundee -> E3 -> Glasgow)

 

[Highland050261]

E6 is Inverness - Thurso that is currently awaiting Inverness Depot Completion.

 

[johncrossley]

With Embers ambition to grow and Inverness, Thurso, Skye, Oban and Fort William due to launch soon with future expansions into England also spoken about I can see the express networks being very different in 10 years time.

Is there any likelihood of expansion into England? The main reason for their existence is funding from the Scottish government, and that wouldn't be available for services in England, and presumably also services between England and Scotland.

 

[Buzby]

The stop in Fort William is essentially at the very end of the row of bus stops behind Morrisons.

Not really a stop, but a stance. The E5 doesn’t enter the station loop road, but goes directly to the car and coach park and reverses in to sit at its charging point (adjacent to the other Chargepoint Scotland and Tesla bays). The 0800 from Glasgow arrives at 1115, parks up and passengers disembark. The bus is then recharged from the Rapid Charger ready for its 1315 return to Glasgow, and leaves directly from this stance. Useful to note, the Jacobite (steam) train service departs immediately behind the bus on the railway line (to Glenfinnan and Mallaig) just before the bus does!

 

[Highland050261]

Is there any likelihood of expansion into England? The main reason for their existence is funding from the Scottish government, and that wouldn't be available for services in England, and presumably also services between England and Scotland.

Theres Rumours that there is discussions about it but there just that at the moment.

 

[route101]

You might not get there….. it’s the E7!

Getting mixed up!

Theres Rumours that there is discussions about it but there just that at the moment.

I do wonder what routes they would do. Edinburgh to Manchester is currently a gap.

 

[overthewater]

Is there any likelihood of expansion into England? The main reason for their existence is funding from the Scottish government, and that wouldn't be available for services in England, and presumably also services between England and Scotland.

Were't there talking about expansion into England with its first port of call being Newcastle?

 

[trei2k]

Not really a stop, but a stance. The E5 doesn’t enter the station loop road, but goes directly to the car and coach park and reverses in to sit at its charging point (adjacent to the other Chargepoint Scotland and Tesla bays). The 0800 from Glasgow arrives at 1115, parks up and passengers disembark. The bus is then recharged from the Rapid Charger ready for its 1315 return to Glasgow, and leaves directly from this stance. Useful to note, the Jacobite (steam) train service departs immediately behind the bus on the railway line (to Glenfinnan and Mallaig) just before the bus does!

Buzby did you mean to share the photo from Glasgow? However, the text is 100% right. I've added the text on the map where you board/alight from the Ember services at Fort William:



They couldn't get any closer to the bus station if they tried!

 

[Buzby]

The difficulty is that if folk assume it is the Macfarlane Way stops (a reasonable assumption) they’ll neither see the bus arrive or depart! Which is why Ember state it’s at the An Aird No1 car & coach park. Further, it’s not western-most bay, as yesterday a curtain trailer blocked the view (as we headed for the Morrison’s toilets before boarding!). Yes, the picture was of the Yutong g14 tri-axle at Buchanan on it’s arrival from Dundee at 0750 before heading off to Fort William yesterday.

 

[Spsf3232]

The difficulty is that if folk assume it is the Macfarlane Way stops (a reasonable assumption) they’ll neither see the bus arrive or depart! Which is why Ember state it’s at the An Aird No1 car & coach park. Further, it’s not western-most bay, as yesterday a curtain trailer blocked the view (as we headed for the Morrison’s toilets before boarding!). Yes, the picture was of the Yutong g14 tri-axle at Buchanan on it’s arrival from Dundee at 0750 before heading off to Fort William yesterday.

That's where the ticketing system should come in and work wonders as when you book your ticket you should be displayed a map that you can see where your stop is on it.

Most of the times people can see the ember buses parked on charge from the usual stops but as you say occasionally trucks park in that spot beside them and can't be helped when they need to park up for a legal break and they have no option. In that case I would pull the bus forward from the bay a few extra feet just to be visible to people.

 

[Sealink]

E6 is Inverness - Thurso that is currently awaiting Inverness Depot Completion.

This is great news.

 

[route101]

Travelled on the E7 from Inverness to Aberdeen today. The service arrived at Union St a little late from the depot but we departed only a few minutes late. Only a handful of us got on. Two more people got on at Nairn and alighted at Aberdeen Airport. I was the only passenger that went all the way.

I do like travelling with Ember as its a fixed price, coaches are modern and there no faffing with seat reservations.

 

[granitebuses]

I think it must be noted that Ember is growing the market, and has picked up a new customer base. Ive do spot Flix and Citylink and they can still be busy, I'm all for this if we can get more cars off the roads.

There has been rumors that they are scouting out the North East such as Fraserburgh and Peterhead, same with Flix Bus but I wonder if they do come to Fraserburgh and Peterhead which way will the route go?

 

[Volvodart]

There has been rumors that they are scouting out the North East such as Fraserburgh and Peterhead, same with Flix Bus but I wonder if they do come to Fraserburgh and Peterhead which way will the route go?

If they did that they would highly likely need to charge the coaches between each journey rather than doing the round trip to Aberdeen as now.

 

[granitebuses]

If they did that they would highly likely need to charge the coaches between each journey rather than doing the round trip to Aberdeen as now.

Yep, well everytime I’ve been on a E1 down to Edinburgh and back to Aberdeen, we always have to stop at Dundee for a quick charge which is a extra 20% but the only charges in Fraserburgh is behind the station in the car park for cars and don’t think there is any in Peterhead.

 

[GregSRHST]

Do we know if there are certain restrictions on the Aberdeen to Inverness route?

I can't seem to book Kintore to Aberdeen for example.

 

[markymark2000]

Do we know if there are certain restrictions on the Aberdeen to Inverness route?

I can't seem to book Kintore to Aberdeen for example.

In short, all passengers must make a journey which is over 15 miles as the crow flies.

 

[Buzby]

In short, all passengers must make a journey which is over 15 miles as the crow flies.

That will come as a surprise to those in Dundee getting off in Longforgan or The Horn (6 and 11m respectively).

 

[markymark2000]

That will come as a surprise to those in Dundee getting off in Longforgan or The Horn (6 and 11m respectively).

The E1 is registered so can carry 'local passengers'. The E7 is not registered with the traffic commissioner and therefore can not convey local passengers. Local defined as travelling 15 miles or less as the crow flies.

 

[trei2k]

Is this why there are more stops being added to the Fort William - Edinburgh route on the 25th June? Does this indicate it has been registered with the traffic commissioner?

Similarly, when selecting Glasgow to Bridge of Orchy, that is 'from 25th of June', does this indicate the same?

 

[Buzby]

I was actually thinking of the E3, if the E1 does this too, clearly they‘ll add the facility at an early date - it doesn’t make sense for them not to. The lack of a Glasgow Airport to Buchanan journey on the E7 was because the airport didn’t want competition with First on their shuttle.

 

[markymark2000]

Is this why there are more stops being added to the Fort William - Edinburgh route on the 25th June? Does this indicate it has been registered with the traffic commissioner?

Similarly, when selecting Glasgow to Bridge of Orchy, that is 'from 25th of June', does this indicate the same?

Ember could add loads more stops anyway without registering the service, but the rules still apply that they can not carry local passengers.

Currently nothing is showing up on the Govt registration search, however given the current delays within the offices there, this may not mean anything.

 

[route101]

Do we know if there are certain restrictions on the Aberdeen to Inverness route?

I can't seem to book Kintore to Aberdeen for example.

I took the E7 and we passed through Kintore and Blackburn despite no passengers getting on or off. Perhaps the driver was running to the timetable.

 

[Highland050261]

In this week's Notices and Proceedings from the Traffic Commissioner, there are increases in their authorizations.

Screenshot from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/notices-and-proceedings-for-scotland#notices-and-proceedings
notices and proceedings 9th of June.

 

[GusB]

In this week's Notices and Proceedings from the Traffic Commissioner, there are increases in their authorizations.

Screenshot from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/notices-and-proceedings-for-scotland#notices-and-proceedings

notices and proceedings 9th of June.

That link doesn't actually go to the actual source. The relevant link is here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6846d8df57f3515d9611f106/np_2545_09_June_2025.pdf

The relevant text is:

PM2025892 SN EMBER CORE LTD
Director(s): PIERCE NICHOLAS FORBES GLENNIE, KEITH MEHDI
BANCROFT BRADBURY, JOEL LARSSON, RAHUL PAREKH, DANIEL
ROBERT JOHN EDGERLEY
23 CHARLOTTE SQUARE, EDINBURGH, EH2 4DF
Increase at existing operating centre: EMBER CORE ELECTRIC CHARGING
HUB, INTOWN ROAD, BRIDGE OF DON, ABERDEEN, AB23 8EZ
New authorisation at this operating centre will be: 18 vehicle(s)
Removed operating centre: UNIT 5, ARDYLE BUSINESS PARK, PERRIE
STREET, DUNDEE, DD2 2RD
New operating centre: CAR PARK 1, AN AIRD, FORT WILLIAM, PH33 6XZ
New authorisation at this operating centre will be: 2 vehicle(s)
New operating centre: EMBER, SHORE STREET, INVERNESS, IV1 1NZ
New authorisation at this operating centre will be: 15 vehicle(s)
New operating centre: EMBER CORE, THURSO LORRY PARK, 2 RIVERSIDE
ROAD, THURSO, KW14 8BU
New authorisation at this operating centre will be: 3 vehicle(s)
Increase at existing operating centre: MICHELIN SCOTLAND INNOVATION
PARC, BALDOVIE ROAD, DUNDEE, DD4 8UQ
New authorisation at this operating centre will be: 40 vehicle(s)
New licence authorisation will be 78 vehicle(s)
Transport Manager(s): ALEXANDER JOE FLANAGAN, LYNDSEY JEAN
MUTCH

 

[GregSRHST]

The E1 is registered so can carry 'local passengers'. The E7 is not registered with the traffic commissioner and therefore can not convey local passengers. Local defined as travelling 15 miles or less as the crow flies.

Thank you for that. Unfortunate for those who live close to Aberdeen and wish to use the service. It would provide a nice alternative to Stagecoach/ScotRail.

 

[PG]

Thank you for that. Unfortunate for those who live close to Aberdeen and wish to use the service. It would provide a nice alternative to Stagecoach/ScotRail.

I'd say keep one eye on the ember website as they may well offer local/shorter journeys once the route beds in and/or their Inverness depot is operational.