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Ember: Electric coach service
- Thread starter ClydeCoaster
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Stan Drews
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You’d think it would be easier to just depart Inverness at 0810 and 1510, returning from Ullapool at 1000 and 1700 …but that wouldn’t fit the ember way!
Highland050261
Member
E18 will also be registered when it starts.
markymark2000
On Moderation
Can't have simplicity like that. Crikey. Got to let AI or whatever random tech they are using do it's thing.You’d think it would be easier to just depart Inverness at 0810 and 1510, returning from Ullapool at 1000 and 1700 …but that wouldn’t fit the ember way!
Far too much like common sense to have simple times for passengers from major stops.
RomeoCharlie71
Established Member
You’d also think they’d operate at times the 961 doesn’t, to give customers a wider choice for times of travel. But remember it’s the car they’re competing with…You’d think it would be easier to just depart Inverness at 0810 and 1510, returning from Ullapool at 1000 and 1700 …but that wouldn’t fit the ember way!
Then again I suspect it’s timed like that specifically for ferry sailings.
Stevie Wonder could tell what they’re up to! The fact the E17’s stopping pattern is almost identical to the X7, right down to the specific stops, affirms that
There is also the commercially run 61 wholly by D&E which doesn't have much sparsity with the 961, gaps that Ember could have filled in (having ~1-2 hours difference for 2 journeys a day 6 hours apart from eachother)
I don't know the area particularly well (beyond being able to look at the population sizes and a map) - does anyone have any intuition as to how much of Ullapool demand is ferry based vs people (whether locals or visitors) travelling to/from Ullapool itself?
Highland050261
Member
Demand on the 961 is heavily dependent on the ferry. On days when it’s cancelled, passenger numbers typically drop to around 3–15 people. However, in the summer, when the ferry is running, services can be full. During these periods, Citylink often puts on a duplicate coach, with both the main 961 service and the duplicate operated by D&E Coaches.
D&E Coaches 61 is mainly used for the Ullapool school run.
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Glasgowbusguy
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Ullapool , Oban , mallaig and may other west coast towns , the flow of passengers is determined by the ferry , it is why for example Calmac include ScotRail trains on there timetables and why ScotRail show what Gerry the train connects with.
Strathtay 260
Member
E18 announced
Highland050261
Member
Wonder how long till the E15 is announced.
overthewater
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Were still waiting on E2, to come back. However where would a E15 go?
Highland050261
Member
E15 is Edinburgh to Oban.
Glasgowbusguy
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I am in Oban this week and ember seems to be well liked and lots of chat about the Edinburgh service. They also seem to have come in at a time when there a lot of discontent with West coast motors.
overthewater
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I wonder if the E2 will end up as the Fife route that was mention months ago in that newspaper report.
Strathtay 260
Member
What makes you think there will be another E2?
Whenever they are able to find drivers for it which is at least a while since WCM controls all the bus driver labour in Oban
overthewater
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Why wouldn't they use E2? also it would make since as it would it be close to the E1.
Strathtay 260
Member
I would have thought if they had planned for an E2 it would be done already as now we are on E18, but I don't think it's a bad idea though.
overthewater
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Remember the E2 used to be northbound E1 and then they made it all the E1.
Strathtay 260
Member
Yes and I think that's the reason they haven't reinstated an E2 service, even though it wouldn't be a bad idea. I've heard people suggest the E1 (Aberdeen) should remain as it is, but the shorter one terminating in Dundee should be the E2 because of the different stopping patterns.
E13 will be the next missing number once it finishes.
E13 will be the next missing number once it finishes.
Jordan1296
Member
Agree with your suggestion re E2. It’ll help differentiate the services.
E13 will probably make a comeback when the 100 new coaches are delivered and the network expands even more.
AndrewTaylor95
Member
Probably extend the E13 to Livingston once the hub is set up
Yes, various comments further up this thread from Monday.
They've announced it on their page. (Well, on Monday)
Cancellation of Lost Shore to Edinburgh Route
We've made the decision to stop running the Lost Shore to Edinburgh route.
We ran this as a three-month trial but unfortunately we didn't get the passenger numbers to make this route sustainable long-term.
The last day of operation will be 12 May.
Fare Cap
Despite a news update about the £2 fare cap (with the ominous "The trial has a fixed budget and may end early if the budget is used faster than the Government expects.") Ember seem incapable of applying the discount when a change of coach is involved. I thought the fact that they made a news article out of it meant they had fixed the issue.
There are some quite egregious anomalies.
GLASGOW to DINGWALL - Through fare is £26.65 single.
GLASGOW to DINGWALL as two seperate tickets: £17.25
Further north the difference is even more stark.
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MicroLithium
Member
How does travelling with larger suitcases on Ember work? Does the driver have to get out at every stop to open the hold doors, or do passengers do that? Just curious
The driver opens and closes the luggage compartments from the driving seat.
MicroLithium
Member
Clever! Thank you