Ember: Electric coach service

[overthewater]

Yes to both. E2 was dundee to Edinburgh. Not sure if it was a variation of E1 or if ran E1 there and E2 back or something as I think it's been mentioned in the forum before but I'm not 100% sure. E13 was a more recent addition and loss from Edinburgh to Lost Shore Surf Resort (started and ended in 2026)

I think it was E1 southbound and E2 was northbound?

 

[Sealink]

Yes to both. E2 was dundee to Edinburgh. Not sure if it was a variation of E1 or if ran E1 there and E2 back or something as I think it's been mentioned in the forum before but I'm not 100% sure. E13 was a more recent addition and loss from Edinburgh to Lost Shore Surf Resort (started and ended in 2026)

Thanks!

 

[route101]

Megabus: £39.48 return for 2, on random dates I checked.
Megabus do the same thing as Citylink - you can book a specific service, but your ticket acts as a standby on another service on the same route in the same direction.

I am pretty sure we have Ember to thank for that, what with them being incredibly flexibile with amendments and cancellations.

EDIT - I see on Ember the cost for 2 will be £30.20!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Aug 2026 ==

Was there ever an Ember E2 and E13 route?

I think with Ember, the driver changes your ticket to the service you are getting on. I see plenty of people getting on the 900 with Megabus tickets, not sure how flexible they are.

 

[davp]

I think with Ember, the driver changes your ticket to the service you are getting on. I see plenty of people getting on the 900 with Megabus tickets, not sure how flexible they are.

With Ember it's even easier to change it yourself. The ticket link has a mobile friendly change page and can be amended up until a few minutes ahead. Important if it's a stop that needs to be pre-booked.

 

[Gla1]

Shame the new E20 service isn’t offering Baillieston as a stop I think it would have been popular.

 

[paravostok]

Just been saved by Ember running 24/7, on an E19 after a Flix 090 terminated early at Deer Park, but as the only passenger on, who booked the only stops, and not particularly early before I got on the bus, I wonder why they even bother? The E19 already seems to mostly be dead air transport, this seems like overkill.

 

[scottishtrains]

Just been saved by Ember running 24/7, on an E19 after a Flix 090 terminated early at Deer Park, but as the only passenger on, who booked the only stops, and not particularly early before I got on the bus, I wonder why they even bother? The E19 already seems to mostly be dead air transport, this seems like overkill.

It's a depot run for the upcoming E20 service. The E10 & E12 are other examples, but every ~20 mins 24/7 is interesting

 

[route101]

Just been saved by Ember running 24/7, on an E19 after a Flix 090 terminated early at Deer Park, but as the only passenger on, who booked the only stops, and not particularly early before I got on the bus, I wonder why they even bother? The E19 already seems to mostly be dead air transport, this seems like overkill.

Feeds into the E20 at Edinburgh Airport and perhaps any future routes from the airport.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Sunday at 00:22 ==

It's a depot run for the upcoming E20 service. The E10 & E12 are other examples, but every ~20 mins 24/7 is interesting

Pretty sure I seen some passengers with cases come off a E12 at Glasgow Buchanan at 0430am this morning.

 

[paravostok]

It's a depot run for the upcoming E20 service. The E10 & E12 are other examples, but every ~20 mins 24/7 is interesting

But thats what I mean, every 20 mins is overkill when the service doesn't exist yet, the route seems antithetical to every other Ember route also. Also does anyone know what they do if nobody books any stops at all?

 

[Deerfold]

But thats what I mean, every 20 mins is overkill when the service doesn't exist yet, the route seems antithetical to every other Ember route also. Also does anyone know what they do if nobody books any stops at all?

The E20 is also every 20 minutes.

 

[scottishtrains]

Also does anyone know what they do if nobody books any stops at all?

The service will still run as normal because someone may book a stop even after the service has left the depot, and someone may book a journey on the return leg.

 

[LiviCrazy]

just a note that the E19 is effectively two routes rather than one, basically 40mins each, the only things they have in common are Livingston Centre and the Airport, other companies would probably have them as A and B.

And from what I’ve seen, the frequency is actually starting to benefit it. This type of service only becomes feasible if people feel they can trust it. The 902 is a good route, but the length makes getting it to the airport a risk due to its tendency to get caught in traffic at the Glasgow end. If Dunfermline, a town much small than Livingston, can sustain the 747 then this can have a good chance of given the time to do it.

I have seen quite a few E19s with up to a dozen passengers going through Uphall and East Calder which isn’t bad for a service with virtually no advertising.

 

[duffers2324]

was sort of hoping that the the E20 might actually go into Livingston Centre as well from Glasgow, would have taken a lot of passengers from the 902 for that part of the journey, i do still sort of think that the 902 may actually become a Glasgow to Livingston service only purely based on the amount of times i have used it over the past year or so, there never seems to be more than 4 or 5 that stay on at Livingston to go to Uphall or Broxburn or the airport but i understand it may also still pick some up in Uphall and Broxburn as well.

 

[CSB0241]

I think it was E1 southbound and E2 was northbound?

Correct, worked as a good way to distinguish the two at stops served in both directions (ie; St. Madoes, Rosyth, or Kinross). I can see why they just opted to merge the two into one route but I’ve lost track of the amount of E1’s I’ve gotten where someone travelling towards Dundee or Aberdeen has gotten on the Edinburgh-bound bus or vice versa.

 

[GeorgeN]

Sorry if I have missed an update in this thread previously, but is there any word about the proposed Ember depot in Paisley, the Ember website still says "We have further hubs coming soon, including in Paisley and Livingston. Keep an eye on this page for updates."

 

[route101]

Sorry if I have missed an update in this thread previously, but is there any word about the proposed Ember depot in Paisley, the Ember website still says "We have further hubs coming soon, including in Paisley and Livingston. Keep an eye on this page for updates."

I thought Livingston was open. Not sure about Paisley, is that the depot for Glasgow?

 

[SoloSR334022]

I thought Livingston was open. Not sure about Paisley, is that the depot for Glasgow?

Livingston is definitely open, same position on Paisley though.

 

[scotrail170434]

Sorry if I have missed an update in this thread previously, but is there any word about the proposed Ember depot in Paisley, the Ember website still says "We have further hubs coming soon, including in Paisley and Livingston. Keep an eye on this page for updates."

Spring 2027 was the latest announcement for drivers you will know the depot is open when the E12 is axed

 

[GeorgeN]

Spring 2027 was the latest announcement for drivers you will know the depot is open when the E12 is axed

Spring 2027 would be ideal for a new route from Glasgow Airport then.

I only asked as I passed the site on the train yesterday but couldn't see any signs of work starting.

Many thanks everyone for the replies

 

[overthewater]

E20 timetable is now on "bustimes" I can't see the end game here with this route? It clearly just copycat of Airlink, but it will give people in Chaplehall and Whitburn direct buses every 20mins to Glasgow. IF only the X51 had done that ( mind you that was the least of its problems)

 

[davp]

E20 timetable is now on "bustimes" I can't see the end game here with this route? It clearly just copycat of Airlink, but it will give people in Chaplehall and Whitburn direct buses every 20mins to Glasgow. IF only the X51 had done that ( mind you that was the least of its problems)

The end game is taking market share by providing a competitive product. No amendment fees, responsive website across devices, easy to see how busy a service is, and full refunds make Ember more competitive at the moment, Citylink advertised journey times are a little quicker.

I wonder about Whitburn and connectivity. Heartlands is a fair way from the centre of Whitburn, is there good parking there?

West Lothian Council don't have form for understanding demand for park and rides with the Fastlinks in Livingston. It looks like putting one at Deer Park and Heartlands would be a smart move.

 

[route101]

I wonder if there will be a Glasgow to Livingston service coming, and that may serve Whitburn Town Centre.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

The end game is taking market share by providing a competitive product. No amendment fees, responsive website across devices, easy to see how busy a service is, and full refunds make Ember more competitive at the moment, Citylink advertised journey times are a little quicker.

I wonder about Whitburn and connectivity. Heartlands is a fair way from the centre of Whitburn, is there good parking there?

West Lothian Council don't have form for understanding demand for park and rides with the Fastlinks in Livingston. It looks like putting one at Deer Park and Heartlands would be a smart move.

Lothian are running the X18 from the 13th to the new Tesco & Home Bargains so it’s easy enough for a connection

 

[davp]

Lothian are running the X18 from the 13th to the new Tesco & Home Bargains so it’s easy enough for a connection

That doesn't serve the whole of Whitburn.

But I imagine the market Ember are looking at here are people who are driving. It's one thing to get them to try a coach instead of driving, another to ask them to catch a half hourly bus service to get to the coach.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

That doesn't serve the whole of Whitburn.

But I imagine the market Ember are looking at here are people who are driving. It's one thing to get them to try a coach instead of driving, another to ask them to catch a half hourly bus service to get to the coach.

It services the vast majority of Whitburn

 

[route101]

Heartlands is the same as Maxim Park, its become an unofficial Park and Ride. There is a park and ride at Newbridge.