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The off-the-shelf app I'm alluding to is the one created by Passenger. It's used by McGill's, Go-Ahead, Blackpool Transport, Reading Buses etc and works very well. I'm sure Ember would be able to hook into it but perhaps there is a "not invented here" attitude.
I’d agree with the “not invented here” attitude — Ember wouldn’t use something developed elsewhere given it’s a self-proclaimed tech company rather than bus operator and everything works around Ember’s own system.
The website works perfectly well for me anyway. I’ve added it to my home screen and it makes no real difference whether it’s a proper app or just the website.
Straight to the airport. No town diversions, no village detours.
Fly is direct, fast, and keeps you moving.
While some buses need to recharge - we're already at the terminal.
Service E16 has appeared on Bustimes, operating from Oban via Tyndrum to Glasgow, supposedly starting on Tuesday but with no announcement or service registration.
I don't agree that they definitely need an app - to me it is an unnecessary extra expense, when the website is optimised for mobile screens, and tickets can be added to Apple or Google Wallets.
The problem with apps is installing and signing up, if you don't already have it on phone. In the time taking to do that I could of bought a ticket onboard or on website.
And a new E18 service between Inverness and Ullapool - presumably a copy of the existing 61 and 961 services - has also been registered to start from April 29th: https://www.vehicle-operator-licens...registered-local-bus-services/details/642304/. Although it does state Conon Bridge and Dingwall as via points, which only the 61 serves
After the supposed Oban to Edinburgh and Dundee to Aberdeen coastal routes, what routes would you bet on are coming next?
There appears to be quite a lot of demand for Ember to launch a Glasgow to Ayr route from customer feedback, although they could continue consolidating their Highland network, if so maybe a route from either Glasgow or Oban to Campbeltown/Lochgilphead
If Glasgow to Campbeltown were to go ahead, Ember could also consider launching an Oban to Dunoon service running twice a day connecting with the bus in both directions at Inveraray. Stagecoach ran a Dunoon to Oban (as an extension of the 486) service back when they still held the Cowal contracts, however it only ran I believe once on the last week of every month
I notice that Ember are using tri-axles on their Oban to Glasgow services via Tyndrum. Citylink only use two-axle coaches on all routes which use the A82 between Crianlarich and Tarbet, for reasons which will be obvious of you've ever driven it.
After the supposed Oban to Edinburgh and Dundee to Aberdeen coastal routes, what routes would you bet on are coming next?
There appears to be quite a lot of demand for Ember to launch a Glasgow to Ayr route from customer feedback, although they could continue consolidating their Highland network, if so maybe a route from either Glasgow or Oban to Campbeltown/Lochgilphead
If Glasgow to Campbeltown were to go ahead, Ember could also consider launching an Oban to Dunoon service running twice a day connecting with the bus in both directions at Inveraray. Stagecoach ran a Dunoon to Oban (as an extension of the 486) service back when they still held the Cowal contracts, however it only ran I believe once on the last week of every month
Ember have confirmed on Facebook that the £2 fare cap will apply to journeys wholly within Highland, Moray and Argyll / Bute. If your journey crosses a boundary you'll be charged the £2, and then the standard Ember fare for the rest.
Ember have confirmed on Facebook that the £2 fare cap will apply to journeys wholly within Highland, Moray and Argyll / Bute. If your journey crosses a boundary you'll be charged the £2, and then the standard Ember fare for the rest.
Ember can confirm that we will be taking part in the fare cap trial which will start tomorrow, 23 March 2026.
At a top line level, the scheme works as follows:
- Any journey entirely within the Highlands region will be capped at £2, whether that's a journey of a few stops or a longer journey such as a trip from Inverness to Oban
- Any journey that crosses the boundary into another region will be capped at £2 for the section of the journey *within* the Highlands region, and then charged at Ember's usual rates for the remainder of the journey that falls *outside* the Highlands region
- The qualifying region is Highland, Moray and Argyll & Bute
- The trial is expected to last for one year
- Adult tickets and child tickets both qualify for this discount, while concessionary card holders will continue to travel for free as normal, with no hidden booking fees
- No operator can sell qualifying £2 tickets before the scheme starts, even if travel is for a date on or after 23 March, so please check back in at www.ember.to from the morning of 23 March to book these tickets
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Considering National Express England didn't take part in the England scheme, this is revolutionary. Citylink must be quaking
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Seems mad to me for Scottish Government to provide fares subsidy to private bus operators to compete directly against a Scottish Government owned rail company, but I am sure someone somewhere read off a spreadsheet that including Scotrail would be 'poor value for money'.
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