Ember: Electric coach service

[Highland050261]

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.

It will more than likely be registered when the full timetable is in use once Inverness is open.

 

[Jordan1296]

Ember are withdrawing their E3X service from 14th July and boosting capacity on the E3 (Dundee to Glasgow) to “simplify our service”.

 

[Volvodart]

Ember are withdrawing their E3X service from 14th July and boosting capacity on the E3 (Dundee to Glasgow) to “simplify our service”.

What will the low capacity coaches be used for?

 

[KrisEK]

What will the low capacity coaches be used for?

Moving to Inverness depot for the Thurso and Fort William runs from there, most likely.

 

[reb0118]

I passed an Ember bus in Bo'ness recently. What route would that have been? Public transport to & from Bo'ness is pretty woeful at present.

 

[Porty]

I passed an Ember bus in Bo'ness recently. What route would that have been? Public transport to & from Bo'ness is pretty woeful at present.

There's no route there at present. You can see their live map on the website with all buses in service visible, at a glance.

 

[Jordan1296]

Ember are also operating a fourth return service between Glasgow & Fort William from 23rd June.

From 23rd July, they are adding stops at Luss, Crianlarich, Glencoe Village and Corran Ferry.

They are “also opening up trips between Dumbarton, Glasgow Airport, Paisley, and Glasgow City Centre”, so is this where the smaller capacity coaches are going, or in addition to the above?

 

[danielhogg2005]

They are “also opening up trips between Dumbarton, Glasgow Airport, Paisley, and Glasgow City Centre”, so is this where the smaller capacity coaches are going, or in addition to the above?

It is where you can book short journeys, for example Glasgow to Glasgow Airport.

 

[route101]

I passed an Ember bus in Bo'ness recently. What route would that have been? Public transport to & from Bo'ness is pretty woeful at present.

Perhaps Edinburgh to Fort William but that would use the M9.

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It is where you can book short journeys, for example Glasgow to Glasgow Airport.

Who would book that trip with the frequency?

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Perhaps Edinburgh to Fort William but that would use the M9.

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Who would book that trip with the frequency?

People will click on to it eventually, £4.10 for a single isn't bad

 

[Highland050261]

Apparently E6 Training starts next week as the Thurso Chargers are complete.

 

[route101]

People will click on to it eventually, £4.10 for a single isn't bad

I suppose if you knew an Ember was due going to the City. Unlike Flixbus the price won't shoot up close to departure.

Anyone know what routes Ember plan to launch?

Oban has been mentioned and we know about Thurso.

 

[Highland050261]

I suppose if you knew an Ember was due going to the City. Unlike Flixbus the price won't shoot up close to departure.

Anyone know what routes Ember plan to launch?

Oban has been mentioned and we know about Thurso.

Inverness - Glasgow & Inverness - Edinburgh.

 

[Buzby]

It is where you can book short journeys, for example Glasgow to Glasgow Airport.

Doubt there will be a ‘local’ airport service. Airport are protecting the First service from competition. There may be a possibility of transfers to Dundee/Inverness etc as connections but point to point is unlikely. I witnessed an argument at the Airpprt where a Dundonian wanted to do just this, but couldn’t. Driver wouldn’t (couldn’t?) let him board as he hadn’t booked.

 

[Spsf3232]

Doubt there will be a ‘local’ airport service. Airport are protecting the First service from competition. There may be a possibility of transfers to Dundee/Inverness etc as connections but point to point is unlikely. I witnessed an argument at the Airpprt where a Dundonian wanted to do just this, but couldn’t. Driver wouldn’t (couldn’t?) let him board as he hadn’t booked.

As of the 25th July Ember can take walk on passengers and onboard sales for these short journeys. Even Airport to paisley can be done.

It will be a registered service which will allow those tickets sold, just now you can't let anyone board at the Airport for Glasgow due to this. I've seen a few people being turned away from it especially when it comes in and there isn't any other buses around people simply see Glasgow and try get on.

 

[Red Onion]

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?

Living on the Buchan corridor, this would be a godsend if it happened so I wouldn’t have to rely on the unpredictable Stagecoach route. If they can sort out the logistics such as charging stops etc, I can’t see why this wouldn’t happen.

 

[ian1944]

They are “also opening up trips between Dumbarton, Glasgow Airport, Paisley, and Glasgow City Centre”, so is this where the smaller capacity coaches are going, or in addition to the above?

I think Paisley is a misnomer, it seems to be just off the M8 and a good walk to the centre, like the McGill Flyers.

 

[route101]

Living on the Buchan corridor, this would be a godsend if it happened so I wouldn’t have to rely on the unpredictable Stagecoach route. If they can sort out the logistics such as charging stops etc, I can’t see why this wouldn’t happen.

Would a direct service to the central belt work?

 

[Red Onion]

Would a direct service to the central belt work?

It would, with the unpredictable nature of the stagecoach Buchan services, I have to leave at least an hour for a connection time, ie if my coach or bus is at 1500 from town, I would need to get a bus scheduled to arrive by 1400 just to hope to make it, due to frequent late running or cancellations. A direct service eliminates the connection anxiety. If it’s also registered for local service then it would largely eliminate my need to use stagecoach.

 

[InOban]

Am I right that these local services at the Airport are merely part of their Fort William coaches which all run via the airport?

 

[Buzby]

Am I right that these local services at the Airport are merely part of their Fort William coaches which all run via the airport?

Yes - the E5 is the only service (to/from Ft William) that will do this. ‘Paisley’ really is a misnomer, the stop is directly opposite the Trident Building on Renfrew Road but I doubt if it will be all that popular.

 

[NorthOxonian]

Yes - the E5 is the only service (to/from Ft William) that will do this. ‘Paisley’ really is a misnomer, the stop is directly opposite the Trident Building on Renfrew Road but I doubt if it will be all that popular.

The extremely low frequency means I doubt it'll see much local use, though perhaps there might be some longer distance demand from those in the northern part of Paisley who don't want to head into Glasgow. In particular I note the timetable works relatively well for day trips - leaving Paisley just before 8.30am and getting back at 8.30pm (slightly later return on weekdays).

 

[Spsf3232]

The extremely low frequency means I doubt it'll see much local use, though perhaps there might be some longer distance demand from those in the northern part of Paisley who don't want to head into Glasgow. In particular I note the timetable works relatively well for day trips - leaving Paisley just before 8.30am and getting back at 8.30pm (slightly later return on weekdays).

I think it will surprise people once the service becomes established, most notably when the service comes in at 4pm to Glasgow and the First 500s are stuck in traffic that may just get some walk on people.

One thing I've noticed is that Google maps is favoring Ember over Citylink when using it's transport directions and it's something I see more and more is people using Google maps to work out what services to use. If that is what gets shown to people as the next service to Glasgow people will take it. They just need to be sure to book it although 99% of the time most of the Glasgow bound buses are calling into the airport anyway.

 

[InOban]

Surely Ember has registered these intermediate stops so that it qualifies as a bus. You don't have to prebook a bus. You should have the right to turn up and pay on board as with any other bus.

 

[KrisEK]

I don't believe there's any legal right to board a bus, it's a commercial venture and a company can refuse service to anyone it likes. It does seem counter intuitive that they'd turn down the money if they were there anyway and have free seats though.

 

[Deerfold]

Surely Ember has registered these intermediate stops so that it qualifies as a bus. You don't have to prebook a bus. You should have the right to turn up and pay on board as with any other bus.

From 25th July, yes, they have.

I don't believe there's any legal right to board a bus, it's a commercial venture and a company can refuse service to anyone it likes. It does seem counter intuitive that they'd turn down the money if they were there anyway and have free seats though.

They can't have passengers travelling less than 15 miles until their registration comes into effect.

 

[PG]

I don't believe there's any legal right to board a bus, it's a commercial venture and a company can refuse service to anyone it likes.

With my pedant hat on:
The Public Service Vehicles (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 1990
permit the driver, inspector or conductor to direct a passenger to leave (not remain on) the vehicle, in certain specific circumstances. There is no authority to refuse service to anyone they (don't) like. The company itself does not have those powers, a legally important distinction.

The conduct of passengers​

6.—(1) No passenger on a vehicle shall–
(k)remain on the vehicle, when directed to leave by the driver, inspector or conductor on the following grounds–

(i)that his remaining would result in the number of passengers exceeding the maximum seating capacity or the maximum standing capacity marked on the vehicle in accordance with the Public Service Vehicles (Carrying Capacity) Regulations 1984(1);

(ii)that he has been causing a nuisance; or

(iii)that his condition is such as would be likely to cause offence to a reasonable passenger or that the condition of his clothing is such that his remaining would be reasonably expected to soil the fittings of the vehicle or the clothing of other passengers;

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

Wonder if a Skye - Glasgow route could be in the cards as thats a money maker for city link

 

[route101]

Wonder if a Skye - Glasgow route could be in the cards as thats a money maker for city link

Will the coaches have the range?

 

[318266]

Will the coaches have the range?

Perhaps Fort William <> Skye would make more sense, or Inverness <> Skye perhaps