Ember: Electric coach service

[Spsf3232]

I wouldn't go that far. For a tech company, their tech isn't amazing, as their systems still can't handle selling tickets for connections between routes and so you have to book each section separately.

Totally agree, very little in the way of progress over the last year or so with the tech. No through ticketing, now we have lack of service status on the website! Don't get me started on the poor implementation of the onboard displays that have been disabled!

They are falling behind with the vision that if implemented right then it can work but now I feel like they are just doing enough to sell the company

 

[Strathtay 260]

Don't get me started on the poor implementation of the onboard displays that have been disabled!

I was surprised to see one working on Sunday. HXW, first time I've seen one actually working which is a positive.

 

[scottishtrains]

Ember are introducing more through ticketing now. Shown is Aberdeen to wick via Inverness, with the E7/E6

 

[markymark2000]

Ember are introducing more through ticketing now. Shown is Aberdeen to wick via Inverness, with the E7/E6

It's like they have been reading the posts haha. Great benefits for passengers there and hopefully people take advantage of it. Long overdue change.

 

[Spsf3232]

It's like they have been reading the posts haha. Great benefits for passengers there and hopefully people take advantage of it. Long overdue change.

Hopefully they have! They have good potential and I would hate to see it ruined with them employing middle management that doesn't understand the industry

 

[astroatlantica]

Does anyone know if there's been any momentum on opening of Oban and Northern Fife operations?

I know some drivers have said a Skye route is in development but from looking on their careers page not too many openings have been filled.

I'm assuming this is also why the (oban-)fw-inverness route hasn't started either.

 

[InOban]

They were in Oban on Sunday looking to recruit

 

[Jordan1296]

Tried Ember from Dundee to Aberdeen for the first time, after recommendation by the ticket office staff at Dundee station due to the line being closed.

I would say, and I know that the timetable changes next week may address this (or make it worse), but reliability was quite poor on that journey. The bus arrived 3 minutes in Dundee. Not a deal breaker, but we did end up 20 minutes late arriving into Aberdeen. The bus was quiet and smooth, and pleasantly well used between Dundee and Brechin, although it did fall away from then and arrive into Aberdeen with little more than double figures on board.

 

[Spsf3232]

Tried Ember from Dundee to Aberdeen for the first time, after recommendation by the ticket office staff at Dundee station due to the line being closed.

I would say, and I know that the timetable changes next week may address this (or make it worse), but reliability was quite poor on that journey. The bus arrived 3 minutes in Dundee. Not a deal breaker, but we did end up 20 minutes late arriving into Aberdeen. The bus was quiet and smooth, and pleasantly well used between Dundee and Brechin, although it did fall away from then and arrive into Aberdeen with little more than double figures on board.

Reliability has slid off a cliff recently for them and they no longer post status updates to the website so you don't know if anything is delayed until you book it and then it tells you. At least Citylink post regularly to Twitter of any issues!

 

[kkong]

Reliability has slid off a cliff recently for them and they no longer post status updates to the website so you don't know if anything is delayed until you book it and then it tells you. At least Citylink post regularly to Twitter of any issues!

On the plus side, you do still receive an automatic full refund if you arrive 30+ minutes late at your destination.

 

[overthewater]

I don't think "northern Fife" route will happen now, it's already a crowed market, There nothing for Dundee or Ember on the careers page, you hardly going to get Glasgow or Aberdeen Drivers doing Via Fife. They have very little present in the Strathclyde main area, that looks like a better place to get grab new passengers?

There had to change the E1 to try and speed up the service. Why would you start a new service in crowed market when the overall company is making a loss? Surly you would try new areas.

The Skye route has become impossible to fill. I'm lead to believe it still a challenge to get drivers for Inverness operations. I don't think Flix is breaking even either, so you have to wonder who is going to blink first.

 

[Spsf3232]

I don't think "northern Fife" route will happen now, it's already a crowed market, There nothing for Dundee or Ember on the careers page, you hardly going to get Glasgow or Aberdeen Drivers doing Via Fife. They have very little present in the Strathclyde main area, that looks like a better place to get grab new passengers?

There had to change the E1 to try and speed up the service. Why would you start a new service in crowed market when the overall company is making a loss? Surly you would try new areas.

The Skye route has become impossible to fill. I'm lead to believe it still a challenge to get drivers for Inverness operations. I don't think Flix is breaking even either, so you have to wonder who is going to blink first.

I doubt that fife will receive anything at this moment but you never know with Ember.

Next expansion is Oban and something out of Perth. The one service they really need to look at is Dundee to Aberdeen via the coast road.

They are really struggling everywhere to keep drivers employed never mind recruit more and they wonder why! 40 hour week contracts which have you working 50 hours a week, management that haven't got a clue about the bus industry and have no experiences that have just came out of university. It's not very professional the way the company is set up and that's affecting recruitment of drivers who are simply walking away back to the big companies and that says how bad it is! I know there will be the ember fan club that will try and say otherwise but I've seen and heard stories from Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh, Fort William and Inverness to know its not just the usual driver gossip

 

[overthewater]

Ive seen a few of the drivers they have recruited and I'm not impressed with there attitude or appearance, some look rather scruffy, and just have no idea, they just driving that coach and following a piece of paper...

The trouble is they keep on saying there a tech company who happens to runs buses... will... Too smart for thier own good.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The trouble is they keep on saying there a tech company who happens to runs buses... will... Too smart for thier own good.

That's what Flix say they are, but in Flix's case it's actually true as they contract the running of the buses (which causes its own problems with consistency).

 

[MotCO]

They are really struggling everywhere to keep drivers employed never mind recruit more and they wonder why! 40 hour week contracts which have you working 50 hours a week, management that haven't got a clue about the bus industry and have no experiences that have just came out of university. It's not very professional the way the company is set up and that's affecting recruitment of drivers who are simply walking away back to the big companies and that says how bad it is! I know there will be the ember fan club that will try and say otherwise but I've seen and heard stories from Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh, Fort William and Inverness to know its not just the usual driver gossip

Is it a case of a new(ish) company trying to expand too quickly?

 

[Spsf3232]

Is it a case of a new(ish) company trying to expand too quickly?

It feels like a mixture of expanding tok quick, trying to reinvent the bus network and mostly it feels like they are only interested in putting a price on the company so that the two owners can sell up.and walk away. It feels like they are just trying to get everything lined up on paper for selling it to make it look good and left behind the very thing people liked about ember.

 

[overthewater]

I can't see who want to buy the company, Ember only has to good routes, E1 and E11, the rest is just cabin copies of other operators, with extra places added on. Have they grown too fast? its been 5 years.

 

[route101]

Not had any problem on my trips. Some trips have been quiet such as Fort William to Glasgow. Interesting to see what routes will come next.

 

[markymark2000]

Why would you start a new service in crowed market when the overall company is making a loss?

I wonder how much the removal of peak time fares has impacted intercity coaches and their patronage/income. If you travel to work on the coach, you are likely to return on the coach (and vice versa) and now if train fares are cheaper in the peak and simpler overall, are more people switching back to the trains?

 

[N1]

I wonder how much the removal of peak time fares has impacted intercity coaches and their patronage/income. If you travel to work on the coach, you are likely to return on the coach (and vice versa) and now if train fares are cheaper in the peak and simpler overall, are more people switching back to the trains?

Might have had a marginal effect (see also Stagecoach withdrawal from Cumbernauld), but would imagine has been offset by free travel for under 22s.

 

[paravostok]

Might have had a marginal effect (see also Stagecoach withdrawal from Cumbernauld), but would imagine has been offset by free travel for under 22s.

The whole coach industry in Scotland is really operating under a massive subsidy from the scheme in the first place, if removing peak fares had this big of an impact, its worrying.

 

[HighlandStorm]

Had a look at the E11 on Saturday and there is 2 seats available from Dundee to Glenshee Ski Centre in the morning and 0 back in the afternoon. From Glenshee to Aberdeen there is 35 seats there and back in the afternoon, so it looks like it's fully booked with skiers/boarders! Potentially a lot of gear to fit in underneath! How big is the boot!

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Had a look at the E11 on Saturday and there is 2 seats available from Dundee to Glenshee Ski Centre in the morning and 0 back in the afternoon. From Glenshee to Aberdeen there is 35 seats there and back in the afternoon, so it looks like it's fully booked with skiers/boarders! Potentially a lot of gear to fit in underneath! How big is the boot!

Stacks of room on the GTe14s

 

[Spsf3232]

Stacks of room on the GTe14s

Actually the locker space is tiny on the GTe14s when you start looking at full vehicles they soon fill up

 

[ajrm]

I wonder how much the removal of peak time fares has impacted intercity coaches and their patronage/income. If you travel to work on the coach, you are likely to return on the coach (and vice versa) and now if train fares are cheaper in the peak and simpler overall, are more people switching back to the trains?

I doubt it's had much impact on longer journeys at least. Coach fares are still highly competitive against the train. An off-peak return Dundee to Edinburgh is £36.40. Any Ember coach Dundee to Edinburgh today is £9.75.
Also, for journeys of this length I imagine many rail passengers would book ahead for a cheaper advance fare so the peak/off peak policy change is irrelevant.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Does anyone know if there's been any momentum on opening of Oban and Northern Fife operations?

I know some drivers have said a Skye route is in development but from looking on their careers page not too many openings have been filled.

I'm assuming this is also why the (oban-)fw-inverness route hasn't started either.

Their next depot/hub to open is in Perth, according to the recruitment page on their website: https://ember.recruitee.com/o/intercity-bus-and-coach-driver-perth

I wonder what route could operate from there!

 

[Volvodart]

Their next depot/hub to open is in Perth, according to the recruitment page on their website: https://ember.recruitee.com/o/intercity-bus-and-coach-driver-perth

I wonder what route could operate from there!

When are the 58 funded coaches due in 2026 expected?

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

When are the 58 funded coaches due in 2026 expected?

Not sure I’m afraid. I’ve been told by Ember that a Perth to Aberdeen route will be launching in the Spring.

 

[Volvodart]

Yes, but just not directly anymore. They would have to change at either Bridge of Earn, Kinross or Rosyth.

There also won't be a balanced frequency of buses from Dundee to Edinburgh - still will be 2 per hour but they won't be every 30 mins, arriving 10 mins apart...

It is being promoted on Facebook as a change at Kinross rather than Ingliston at present..

Direct hourly connections to Edinburgh Airport Terminal

From tomorrow, Wednesday 11 February, Ember's E1 services will be serving Edinburgh Airport terminal hourly, round the clock and seven days a week.

Passengers from Aberdeen, Dundee, Forfar, Brechin, Kinross, Rosyth and many more will now be able to connect directly to the airport without the need for a connecting tram.

Passengers from St Madoes, Longforgan, Walnut Grove and The Horn will still be able to reach the airport with a single change as before, with the change now taking place at Kinross rather than Ingliston.

If you're coming in on our E4 route from places like Fort William, Dunblane or Stirling you'll be dropped at the terminal exactly as you are now.

A single fare from Aberdeen to the airport is just £17.65, whether you book a month in advance or 10 minutes before departure. From Dundee, the fare is just £9.55 and from Stirling £6.55. Remember, if you have a valid concession card, all Ember services are totally free with no hidden 'booking fees'.

When planning your holidays, taking an Ember is now a super convenient connecting service to the departure lounge, or to get you and your cases back home in comfort.

 

[Strathtay 260]

It is being promoted on Facebook as a change at Kinross rather than Ingliston at present..

Yeah I've seen that, through tickets available too which is good. Just hope your bus isn't late unless they'll wait for connections.