Gamechanger new budget train line to launch from London next year
A NEW direct train service between a central Scottish city and London is due to launch as early as spring 2026.
Lumo, which is part of FirstGroup, will run four return services a day to Stirling in Scotland, with the exception of Sundays, where there will be three.
Advertisement
3
Lumo plans to launch a train service from Stirling to London
Credit: Alamy
3
Lumo trains are all-electric
Credit: Alamy
The route will provide first-ever direct services to London for Whifflet, Greenfaulds, and Larbert.
Currently, the Lumo brand runs on the East Coast Main Line between London King's Cross and Edinburgh.
The new West Coast services were due to start this year, however FirstGroup said they are "currently expected to commence mid-2026 following the delivery of the trains and staff training".
Lumo's new route will link London Euston directly to Stirling, also calling at Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie,
Motherwell
, Whifflet (serving Coatbridge), Greenfaulds (serving Cumbernauld) and Larbert.
Advertisement
Read more on train journeys
The train company is currently awaiting approval from
the Office
of Rail and Road (ORR) to further extend services to Glasgow.
Martijn Gilbert, managing director of Lumo, said: "Our new service between Stirling and London has the potential to unlock significant economic opportunities for communities along the route, and we're proud to deliver this direct rail connectivity to towns previously overlooked by traditional rail services.
"We are focused on further expanding our services in Scotland to ensure even greater connectivity across the country and the whole UK."
Sue Webber MSP, Conservative transport spokesperson, said: "Lumo is actively
investing
in our capital city – not only bringing in tourists but also supporting our vibrant hospitality and events sector.
Advertisement
Most read in News Travel
"And this isn't just talk: we're looking at £740 million in economic
benefits
from Lumo by 2032."
According to the
Iconic steam train Tornado delights crowds as it powers through Cornwall on rail tour
The new service, once launched, will also compete with Avanti West Coast and publicly-owned ScotRail, LNER and TransPennine Express.
Last year, Lumo also announced plans for a
Advertisement
A proposed new train service would offer journeys between London and Rochdale, with stops at Manchester.
If plans are approved, it would be the first time that a direct train has connected Rochdale to London for more than 25 years.
What are Lumo trains like?
LUMO trains are fully-electric trains which were introduced back in 2021.
At the time of launch, passengers could travel from London to Edinburgh for just £19.90.
The company claimed they provided "fares that are fair".
The trains do not have a first class option, but they do have USB sockets, tray tables and comfortable seating.
Passengers can also personalise their lighting via a button on the back of the seat in front of them.
An application has been submitted to the Office of Rail and Road and if approved, the new services could take to the rails in 2027.
Also announced last year, Lumo's train service joining
Advertisement
Also, the
Plus, the
3
The new route could launch as early as spring 2026
Credit: Alamy
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
2 hours ago
- The Journal
Trump says Musk has 'lost his mind' as he considers ditching his Tesla amid public bust-up
DONALD TRUMP HAS declared that Elon Musk has 'lost his mind' amid a spiralling public bust-up that has seen government contracts threatened, conspiracy theories hurled, and even a potential presidential Tesla sale in the works. In a phone interview with ABC News, the US President brushed off suggestions of a reconciliation call with the Tesla and SpaceX boss. 'You mean the man who has lost his mind?' Trump quipped. A White House official later confirmed that no such call is planned, and that Trump is not interested in speaking to his former ally. According to numerous reports, the US President is now considering selling his Tesla – a car he once praised as Musk's 'baby' – in a very public break from the tech billionaire. Musk and Trump pictured in a Model S Tesla vehicle on the South Lawn of the White House. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Trump and Musk had posed inside the car at a bizarre event in March, when the president turned the White House into a pop-up Tesla showroom after viral protests against Musk's role as head of the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). 'Big ugly spending bill' The once-close relationship between the pair imploded this week, just days after Musk exited his position as head of the DOGE . What followed was a dramatic volley of posts and counterclaims across social media platforms. Musk slammed Trump's flagship 'One Big Beautiful Bill' (a major tax and spending package) as a 'big ugly spending bill' that gutted electric vehicle subsidies. The bill, passed by House Republicans in May, removed key EV incentives Musk's companies rely on. Trump responded by claiming he personally asked Musk to step down from his government role, saying he had been 'wearing thin.' Advertisement Musk denied that and escalated further, alleging that Trump 'is in the Epstein files,' a claim swiftly dismissed by the White House as 'baseless.' The Tesla CEO is also now backing calls for the US president to be impeached. The White House said Musk's outrage was nothing more than an 'unfortunate episode' sparked by his disappointment over the EV subsidy cuts. Trump, speaking to reporters, claimed Musk had known the bill's contents 'better than anybody,' and only objected when he saw how it would hit his bottom line. Trump addressed the feud with reporters today. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Musk fired back: 'False. This bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it.' Markets reacted swiftly – Tesla shares plunged 14.3% yesterday, wiping around $150 billion off the company's value. Musk also threatened to decommission SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, a vital link to the International Space Station, after Trump floated pulling federal contracts. He later reversed course, posting: 'Ok, we won't decommission Dragon.' 'Expiration date' For now, reconciliation looks unlikely. Trump has made clear he's moving on, and Musk, once a key part of his policy team, appears ready to go to war. Trade Advisor Peter Navarro, whom Musk once called 'dumber than a sack of bricks' in an argument over Trump's tariffs, refused to gloat but said the tycoon had an 'expiration date.' 'No, I'm not glad or whatever,' he told reporters. 'People come and go from the White House.' Vice President JD Vance also stuck by Trump amid the blazing row, blasting what he called 'lies' that his boss was 'impulsive or short-tempered', but notably avoided criticising Musk. Additional reporting from AFP Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Pretty European city most Brits won't have heard of gets new cheap flights from the UK
WIZZ Air has unveiled a new route between Birmingham and a pretty European city lots of Bris will have never have heard of. Sibiu is located in central Romania, and is known for its Germanic architecture . 3 Sibiu is located in central Romania Credit: Alamy 3 The city is known for its history and architecture Credit: Alamy Now, Wizz Air will be connecting the city with Birmingham, from October this year. The flights will operate twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays from October 28, with fares starting from £17.99. The flight would take just over three hours. Sibiu has a wealth of different places to explore. Read more on Europe History is evident throughout the city, with remains of medieval walls and towers present, including the 13th-century Council Tower. In the upper town, there is also the Brukenthal Palace - which now houses the Brukenthal National Museum and is full of European paintings. For those who find churches fascinating, then the nearby Evangelical Cathedral is a must with gravestones in its walls. Just outside of the city, is also the Dumbrava Sibiului Natural Park. Most read in News Travel The parkland area stretches over 960 hectares and it is an oak forest with a plethora of wildlife including deer, porcupines and foxes. A beer costs around 11 lei, which is about £1.83 - so relatively cheap. Watch incredible Romania town And the average coffee costs 12.20 lei, which is around £2.03. Food is also cheap, with a three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant costing £29.12 on average. Olivia Harangozó of Wizz Air said: "We are excited to add this new route to our operations from Birmingham. "Sibiu is one of Europe's hidden gems, and we are delighted to give Brits more opportunities to visit this city and experience its – and Romania's – rich history and vibrant culture." All flights will be operated using the latest-generation Airbus A321neo aircraft. WizzAir also recently announced a new route between Birmingham and Rome, Italy, which is due to commence service on June 16. The flights will operate three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. One woman Plus, the 3 The city is also relatively cheap Credit: Alamy
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
The simple Vinted packing trick that stops buyers scamming you and means you won't be out of pocket
YOU'D be hard pushed to find someone these days who hasn't tried their luck on Vinted - with some even managing to turn reselling into their entire career. However, there are some downsides to selling on the app, such as scams when buyers say they haven't received the item you've sold them. 3 If you're a Vinted user, there's a clever packaging tip you can try that should help you avoid being scammed Credit: Alamy 3 Including the exact pictures you need to take as 'photographic proof' that you've sold and sent it as seen Credit: Alamy 3 You should also double bag your item before sending it Credit: Getty But there's a clever way to avoid that happening, and it's really easy too. Double wrapping your sales means you've abided by Vinted's packaging rule, and could swing a dispute in your favour if someone claims they've received an empty bag. "As a seller, it's crucial you double wrap your items before shipping," Marc Porcar, CEO of , explained. "Otherwise, Vinted is likely to side with the buyer, and you may end up without the item or payment. Read more Vinted stories "Vinted's packaging rules state double wrapping, and by following them you can help tip the balance in your favour if a buyer lies about not receiving an item." If you're worried that paying out for mailing bags isn't the most environmentally-friendly approach, you can reuse packaging from previous deliveries to avoid contributing to landfill sites. Another way you can reduce your risk of being scammed is to collect photographic evidence. "Take a series of clear photos while packaging and shipping your packages to use if a buyer falsely claims an item wasn't received," Marc continued. Most read in Fabulous "Some Vinted sellers record themselves wrapping the package, ensuring visual proof of what was included and confirming that you followed the double wrapping practice. "This can help strengthen your case for disputes." I've made £200 on Vinted in 24 hours - the 9 items that are flipping FAST & the retro product to always pick up The photos you need to take are: the item before packaging, the item inside the package, the sealed package with the shipping label attached, and the package at the drop-off point. If you can take a snap which shows the person's address on the shipping label too, it helps make the package identifiable - which will also strengthen a case. "If shipping via a post office that weighs the package, take a photo of the weight at home and again at the counter to help verify the item packaged," Marc added. "Mentioning to the buyer that the package has been shipped with photographic evidence recorded may help deter any scammers." New Vinted rules to be aware of IF you fancy clearing out your wardrobe and getting rid of your old stuff on Vinted, you'll need to consider the new rules that recently came into play. If people are selling personal items for less than they paid new (which is generally the case for second-hand sales), there is no impact on tax. However, since January 1, digital platforms, including eBay, Airbnb, Etsy, Amazon and Vinted, must share seller information with HMRC as part of a crackdown. You're unlikely to be affected if you only sell a handful of second-hand items online each year - generally, only business sellers trading for profit might need to pay tax. A tax-free allowance of £1,000 has been in place since 2017 for business sellers trading for profit - the only time that an individual personal item might be taxable is if it sells for more than £6,000 and there is a profit from the sale. However, firms now have to pass on your data to HMRC if you sell 30 or more items a year or earn over £1,700. It is part of a wider tax crackdown to help ensure that those who boost their income via side hustles pay up what they owe. While your data won't be shared with HMRC if you earn between £1,000 and £1,700, you'll still need to pay tax as normal.
