Ember: Electric coach service

[Dfatcontroller]

That would be a significant drop in capacity compared to the Interdecks so I'd doubt it

Could match Ember and punt for the GTe14. Bet they would be a higher seating capacity with terrible legroom compared to Ember's.

 

[gingerheid]

I keep wondering how many more routes Ember can start without it becoming a problem that it's a coach service rather than a bus service. A lot of the obvious ones are done, and while not all the gap also clearly isn't 100 coaches worth.

Some of the ones that you feel would naturally come next closish to the top of the list after the obvious things like the remaining parts of the CityLink network would be things like Glasgow to Greenock or Ayr, or Edinburgh to Fife? I don't feel like these are the most natural fits with their operating model? The E17 might even be the first of these? It's something that was previously a CityLink route but that has found a long term more comfortable home as a turn up and go service, and perhaps the majority of trips will be made on sections where people won't feel hugely inclined to pre-book (even by five mins)?

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

I keep wondering how many more routes Ember can start without it becoming a problem that it's a coach service rather than a bus service. A lot of the obvious ones are done, and while not all the gap also clearly isn't 100 coaches worth.

Some of the ones that you feel would naturally come next closish to the top of the list after the obvious things like the remaining parts of the CityLink network would be things like Glasgow to Greenock or Ayr, or Edinburgh to Fife? I don't feel like these are the most natural fits with their operating model? The E17 might even be the first of these? It's something that was previously a CityLink route but that has found a long term more comfortable home as a turn up and go service, and perhaps the majority of trips will be made on sections where people won't feel hugely inclined to pre-book (even by five mins)?

Could they look at more tourist routes such as going against West coast motors such as on mull , or other islands with a rail and sail ticket.

 

[Sealink]

Not yet. For example
GLASGOW to WATTEN is showing as £35.65 on Ember.

Whereas
GLASGOW to DALWHINNIE is £13.75
DALWHINNIE to WATTEN is £4.00

Searching for Glasgow to Watten should therefore come up as £17.75

I messaged Ember on Saturday and the reply was "This is a new scheme for us, so there might be a few teething issues - I'll have a look into this and get back to you"

Sadly nothing has changed yet. So if you are booking cross-boundary tickets do check split ticketing! Split ticketing on coaches wasn't on my 2026 Transport Bingo Card

Also why would Glagow to Watten show at (full price): £35.65 while Watten to Glasgow is £42.75?

 

[route101]

I keep wondering how many more routes Ember can start without it becoming a problem that it's a coach service rather than a bus service. A lot of the obvious ones are done, and while not all the gap also clearly isn't 100 coaches worth.

Some of the ones that you feel would naturally come next closish to the top of the list after the obvious things like the remaining parts of the CityLink network would be things like Glasgow to Greenock or Ayr, or Edinburgh to Fife? I don't feel like these are the most natural fits with their operating model? The E17 might even be the first of these? It's something that was previously a CityLink route but that has found a long term more comfortable home as a turn up and go service, and perhaps the majority of trips will be made on sections where people won't feel hugely inclined to pre-book (even by five mins)?

Yes, for them routes you have the train and McGills or Stagecoach. Always thought Glasgow/Edinburgh - Dumfries would fit Embers network.

Ayr - Kilmarnock - East Kilbride - Hamilton - Livingston - Edinburgh Airport - Edinburgh is a not out of the question.

 

[nick291]

Yes, for them routes you have the train and McGills or Stagecoach. Always thought Glasgow/Edinburgh - Dumfries would fit Embers network.

Ayr - Kilmarnock - East Kilbride - Hamilton - Livingston - Edinburgh Airport - Edinburgh is a not out of the question.

If Ember can see there is a demand for a service such as this then I definitely see them giving it a try. Always found it strange why Citylink binned the 904(Edinburgh- East Kilbride).

 

[JKP]

Yes, for them routes you have the train and McGills or Stagecoach. Always thought Glasgow/Edinburgh - Dumfries would fit Embers network.

Ayr - Kilmarnock - East Kilbride - Hamilton - Livingston - Edinburgh Airport - Edinburgh is a not out of the question.

I believe that Ember was approached around four or five years ago about the possibility of running an Edinburgh - Biggar - Dumfries route but was not interested at the time.

 

[MotCO]

I believe that Ember was approached around four or five years ago about the possibility of running an Edinburgh - Biggar - Dumfries route but was not interested at the time.

It makes you wonder why they have changed their minds. It is not inconceivable that they are 'bulking up' the business with an eye to preparing it for sale.

 

[Spsf3232]

I believe that Ember was approached around four or five years ago about the possibility of running an Edinburgh - Biggar - Dumfries route but was not interested at the time.

It's not that they are not interested, at the time they didn't have any charging hubs in the central belt.

That may change with Glasgow and Livingston hub opening this year as that will enable southbound services of around 300 mile roundtrip between charges. I would put my money on Carlisle and Newcastle from Edinburgh and Glasgow via borders and Dumfries

 

[borage]

I keep wondering how many more routes Ember can start without it becoming a problem that it's a coach service rather than a bus service. A lot of the obvious ones are done, and while not all the gap also clearly isn't 100 coaches worth.

[...]

This reminds me that in 2021 they were down for 4 Arrival buses (not coaches). The funding got spent on some of the Yutong coaches instead, but what was the original plan it had gone ahead and Arrival hadn't gone bust?

 

[Sealink]

Ember are still struggling with the fare cap crossing boundaries, Citylink seem to get it right

 

[Spsf3232]

Ember are still struggling with the fare cap crossing boundaries, Citylink seem to get it right

Just another example of management not having any experience in the transport industry that they can't get simple things like that right

 

[Sealink]

Until they fix it, Ember are looking very uncompetitive on some routes, I don't think everyone would now to split the fare at Inverness or Dalwhinnie.

EMBER: Wick - Glasgow £77.80 (RETURN)
CITYLINK: Wick - Glasgow £54 (RETURN)
SCOTRAIL: Wick - Glasgow £61.80 (admittedly 2 x Advance Singles)

 

[nick291]

Until they fix it, Ember are looking very uncompetitive on some routes. I don't think everyone would now to split the fare at Inverness or Dalwhinnie.

EMBER: Wick - Glasgow £77.80
CITYLINK: Wick - Glasgow £54
SCOTRAIL: Wick - Glasgow £61.80 (admittedly Advance Singles)

I understand that running electric coaches isn't exactly cheap but neither is a Class 156/158 DMU. Plus the fare isn't split on Scotrail/Citylink, even if you have to change once or twice.

 

[paravostok]

I understand that running electric coaches isn't exactly cheap but neither is a Class 156/158 DMU. Plus the fare isn't split on Scotrail/Citylink, even if you have to change once or twice.

I was under the impression that running electric coaches would be cheaper? Or at least the actual operation of them, ignoring the overhead from infrastructure, especially now when oil prices are high.

 

[scotrail170434]

Until they fix it, Ember are looking very uncompetitive on some routes. I don't think everyone would now to split the fare at Inverness or Dalwhinnie.

EMBER: Wick - Glasgow £77.80
CITYLINK: Wick - Glasgow £54
SCOTRAIL: Wick - Glasgow £61.80 (admittedly Advance Singles)

I just checked there and it was £42.35 for Ember Wick-Glasgow

 

[Sealink]

I just checked there and it was £42.35 for Ember Wick-Glasgow

That's for a single journey. Strangely, Glasgow to Wick is cheaper. I have updated my post for clarity.

 

[overthewater]

I was under the impression that running electric coaches would be cheaper? Or at least the actual operation of them, ignoring the overhead from infrastructure, especially now when oil prices are high.

The price of electricity has skyrocketed. Maybe back when they were planning on setting up the company it was cheap but those days are gone now.

 

[Sealink]

I understand that running electric coaches isn't exactly cheap but neither is a Class 156/158 DMU. Plus the fare isn't split on Scotrail/Citylink, even if you have to change once or twice.

Citylink do the split but it doesn't seem to work either, should be £32 return. (Wick to Inverness at £4 return, Inverness to Glasgow at £28).
In fact I just checked Wick to Dalwhinnie and it comes up at £4 single and £30 return which is clearly incorrect as Dalwhinnie is the boundary.

What an absolute mess!!

 

[HighlandStorm]

Citylink do the split but it doesn't seem to work either, should be £32 return. (Wick to Inverness at £4 return, Inverness to Glasgow at £28).
In fact I just checked Wick to Dalwhinnie and it comes up at £4 single and £30 return which is clearly incorrect as Dalwhinnie is the boundary.

What an absolute mess!!

The trial only applies to single tickets, so it makes no sense to buy a return in the designated area. However, Citylink singles are usually significantly more than half respective return tickets. Plus citylink prices aren’t fixed like Embers.

A big benefit of the trial for some will be being able to use Citylink one way and Ember the other, something that Citylink pricing usually heavily discouraged!

 

[Sealink]

The trial only applies to single tickets, so it makes no sense to buy a return in the designated area. However, Citylink singles are usually significantly more than half respective return tickets. Plus citylink prices aren’t fixed like Embers.

A big benefit of the trial for some will be being able to use Citylink one way and Ember the other, something that Citylink pricing usually heavily discouraged!

True, but Citylink is showing £4 return (2 x £2) from Wick to Inverness. So it should follow that Wick to Dalwhinnie should be £8 return.

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

Just done the Glasgow oban and ember could be on to a winner there offering is more comfortable than city link and the train and a lot faster my only grumble is the toilet is tiny

 

[Highland050261]

XOS isn't for Ember as mentioned, XPA-XPD are also registered.

XPE/F/G/H/K/L/M/N/O/P are also Registered.

 

[Strathtay 260]

XPE/F/G/H/K/L/M/N/O/P are also Registered.

Indeed.

XOU
XOV
XOW
XOX
XOY
XOZ
XPA
XPB
XPC
XPD
XPE
XPF
XPG
XPH
XPK
XPL
XPM
XPN
XPO
XPP

 

[scottishtrains]

Just done the Glasgow oban and ember could be on to a winner there offering is more comfortable than city link and the train and a lot faster my only grumble is the toilet is tiny

most toilets are small on coaches, youre lucky if they even work on a citylink coach. at least with ember i know itll be working

 

[Spsf3232]

most toilets are small on coaches, youre lucky if they even work on a citylink coach. at least with ember i know itll be working

Having a working toilet on an ember is very hit and miss as they can spend two or three days away from base

 

[overthewater]

Having a working toilet on an ember is very hit and miss as they can spend two or three days away from base

Even Megabus/citylink were able to clean the coaches if they come up from on London duties. So Ember only cleans thier coaches every 3 days?

 

[Spsf3232]

Even Megabus/citylink were able to clean the coaches if they come up from on London duties. So Ember only cleans thier coaches every 3 days?

The vehicles only get toilet dropped and outsides clean when it visits a hub in Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen and even then the staff are so stretched that your lucky if it gets a toilet drop and a quick sweep out, they hardly have time to wash them as Ember didn't pay for proper washing facilities. This effects vehicles on Oban/Fort William mostly as they get swapped with E1/E3 most days and when they have delays swaps get cancelled, or like weekends don't happen so a bus can go from Friday to Monday without the toilet being dropped on an E4 or E5

What I will say is most drivers do keep the buses clean in between times at terminals which does help

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

The vehicles only get toilet dropped and outsides clean when it visits a hub in Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen and even then the staff are so stretched that your lucky if it gets a toilet drop and a quick sweep out, they hardly have time to wash them as Ember didn't pay for proper washing facilities. This effects vehicles on Oban/Fort William mostly as they get swapped with E1/E3 most days and when they have delays swaps get cancelled, or like weekends don't happen so a bus can go from Friday to Monday without the toilet being dropped on an E4 or E5

What I will say is most drivers do keep the buses clean in between times at terminals which does help

Tbf my bus was spotless throughout and the toilet was cleaner than any citylink , Megabus or ScotRail toilet I have ever used

 

[Strathtay 260]

More stops being added on the E17 launching 29th April, available to book now.