How North East train passengers can get free tea and coffee next week
Commuters aboard Lumo trains are in for a heartwarming surprise this Monday, February 17, as the rail operator teams up with Newcastle's iconic tea maker, Ringtons, to serve complimentary hot beverages.
This initiative, part of Random Acts of Kindness Day, is set to spread warmth and joy along the Edinburgh to London route.
Passengers on all Lumo services will be treated to free Ringtons tea and coffee, a simple yet thoughtful gesture designed to brighten their journey.
In addition to the complimentary drinks, customers will also have the opportunity to win exclusive prizes, including train tickets and special Ringtons treats, through Lumo and Ringtons' social media channels.
Commuters across the country will be treated to FREE Ringtons tea and coffee on Lumo trains this Monday (FEB 17) as part of Random Acts of Kindness Day, with complimentary drinks served on all services by the train operator, which runs five times daily between Edinburgh and London (Image: NORTH NEWS) Random Acts of Kindness Day, an international event that has been running since 1995, encourages individuals and businesses alike to promote positivity, generosity, and compassion.
Lumo's initiative aligns with its commitment to enhancing passenger experience while supporting regional businesses.
Established in 1907, Ringtons has long been a beloved staple of North East England, renowned for its high-quality tea and dedication to tradition.
The partnership between Lumo and Ringtons began when the train operator launched in 2021, with both brands sharing a common mission to offer customers high-quality, locally sourced products.
By bringing together their expertise and commitment to excellence, Lumo and Ringtons are not just serving beverages—they are fostering a sense of community and kindness on the rails.
Lumo handing out tea to customers (Image: NORTH NEWS) So, if you're traveling with Lumo this Monday, be sure to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, on the house, as a small reminder that kindness goes a long way. Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director at Lumo, said: "At Lumo, we believe that small moments can make a big difference and Random Acts of Kindness Day is a fantastic opportunity to give back to our customers. "We strive to create a welcoming and enjoyable travel experience, and this initiative allows us to spread a little extra joy along the way. "Ringtons has been a valued partner since the very beginning, sharing our commitment to quality and customer experience. We're thrilled to collaborate once again to bring a touch of warmth and generosity to our customer's journeys, making their time with us even more special." Lumo recently secured a 96 per cent customer satisfaction score through an independent survey, reinforcing its passion for the customer experience.
Recommended reading:
County Durham sub-contractor jailed for theft of £70k worth of machinery and tools
One in hospital after HGV crashes into wall in Darlington with air ambulance called
Drivers warned as traffic camera to be introduced at busy Durham junction
Emma Shard, Brand and Communications Manager at Ringtons added: "Kindness, community, and tea are at the heart of Ringtons, no matter where you encounter us. "There's a real synergy between the wonderful team at Lumo and ours. Every day, we all go out and about, performing acts of kindness—stopping for a chat, and going above and beyond to ensure our communities are happy and well cared for. "Monday presents a lovely opportunity for us to share the joy of tea and coffee with Lumo. Like Martijn, we believe it's the little things that can make a big difference. After all, is there anything more heartwarming than someone making you that unexpected cup of tea?"

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Rail challenger to take on Labour's nationalised trains
Private train operator Lumo is plotting a range of new services across Britain in a direct challenge to Labour's nationalised rail network. FirstGroup, which owns the low-cost rail company, is looking to expand operations after already announcing plans to triple Lumo's passenger count to 10m a year with the addition of five new routes. Graham Sutherland, the chief executive, said FirstGroup is now studying population growth and housebuilding plans to determine where is best to introduce new routes. However, he said the company is particularly keen to restore direct services to London from small towns across the UK, while it is also exploring the possibility of launching trains between poorly connected regional centres. He said: 'Obviously it gets harder the further you get through it, but we feel there are other opportunities still to come out over time. 'Anything we are looking at is commercially sensitive. But the basic criteria is do we think there are under-served areas in terms of rail and do we have an opportunity to drive modal shift and get people out of their cars.' It comes after Labour sent out mixed messages on the continuation of private rail services following the launch of its state-backed railway company, Great British Railways (GBR). Privatised 'open-access' operators, which are not paid by the Government to run services and make their money only from passenger fares, are due to remain in private hands, according to the blueprint for GBR. However, Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, wrote to the industry regulator in January advising it to adopt a more rigorous stance on approving open-access applications. GBR is set to be fully operational by next year. Meanwhile, The Telegraph revealed last month that LNER, which is already government-run, is predicted to lose out on £1bn in ticket sales to private operators offering cheaper fares. Mr Sutherland said open access is no threat to the nationalised railway, claiming instead that competition helps to improve standards and attract new customers. Mr Sutherland added that further routes targeted by Lumo were likely to conform to its existing long-distance model. FirstGroup currently operates open-access services along the east coast main line from Kings Cross to Edinburgh and Hull via Lumo and sister brand Hull Trains, which it plans to extend to Glasgow and Sheffield respectively. A further two new routes are guaranteed, one from London Euston to Stirling, in Scotland, and the other from London Paddington to Carmarthen, in south Wales, after FirstGroup bought access rights from Arriva's Grand Union. FirstGroup has also lodged applications with the Office of Rail and Road to run trains from Euston to Rochdale via Manchester and from Paddington to Hereford and Paignton, Devon. Should the company succeed in expanding to all seven routes, its open-access revenue should jump from £106m to around £300m, Mr Sutherland said. FirstGroup's South Western Railway became the first to be seized by Labour last month and will be followed by its remaining Avanti West Coast and Great Western franchises. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Rail challenger to take on Labour's nationalised trains
Private train operator Lumo is plotting a range of new services across Britain in a direct challenge to Labour's nationalised rail network. FirstGroup, which owns the low-cost rail company, is looking to expand operations after already announcing plans to triple Lumo's passenger count to 10m a year with the addition of five new routes. Graham Sutherland, the chief executive, said FirstGroup is now studying population growth and housebuilding plans to determine where is best to introduce new routes. However, he said the company is particularly keen to restore direct services to London from small towns across the UK, while it is also exploring the possibility of launching trains between poorly connected regional centres. He said: 'Obviously it gets harder the further you get through it, but we feel there are other opportunities still to come out over time. 'Anything we are looking at is commercially sensitive. But the basic criteria is do we think there are under-served areas in terms of rail and do we have an opportunity to drive modal shift and get people out of their cars.' It comes after Labour sent out mixed messages on the continuation of private rail services following the launch of its state-backed railway company, Great British Railways (GBR). Privatised 'open-access' operators, which are not paid by the Government to run services and make their money only from passenger fares, are due to remain in private hands, according to the blueprint for GBR. However, Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, wrote to the industry regulator in January advising it to adopt a more rigorous stance on approving open-access applications. GBR is set to be fully operational by next year. Meanwhile, The Telegraph revealed last month that LNER, which is already government-run, is predicted to lose out on £1bn in ticket sales to private operators offering cheaper fares. Mr Sutherland said open access is no threat to the nationalised railway, claiming instead that competition helps to improve standards and attract new customers. Mr Sutherland added that further routes targeted by Lumo were likely to conform to its existing long-distance model. FirstGroup currently operates open-access services along the east coast main line from Kings Cross to Edinburgh and Hull via Lumo and sister brand Hull Trains, which it plans to extend to Glasgow and Sheffield respectively. A further two new routes are guaranteed, one from London Euston to Stirling, in Scotland, and the other from London Paddington to Carmarthen, in south Wales, after FirstGroup bought access rights from Arriva's Grand Union. FirstGroup has also lodged applications with the Office of Rail and Road to run trains from Euston to Rochdale via Manchester and from Paddington to Hereford and Paignton, Devon. Should the company succeed in expanding to all seven routes, its open-access revenue should jump from £106m to around £300m, Mr Sutherland said. FirstGroup's South Western Railway became the first to be seized by Labour last month and will be followed by its remaining Avanti West Coast and Great Western franchises. 擷取數據時發生錯誤 登入存取你的投資組合 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Yahoo
New London-Stirling train service expected to begin in mid-2026
New rail services between London and central Scotland are expected to launch in mid-2026 after an agreement was reached for the use of five trains. Transport giant FirstGroup said it has secured a deal with rolling stock company Eversholt Rail in relation to its planned new route between London Euston and the city of Stirling. Services will also call at Milton Keynes Central, Nuneaton, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet, Greenfaulds and Larbert. There will be four return services a day (three on Sundays) on the full route, with an additional daily return service between Euston and Preston. This will provide more competition for several operators such as LNER and Avanti West Coast. FirstGroup holds track access rights from regulator the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for the route on the West Coast Main Line until 2030. Trains will be operated under FirstGroup's Lumo brand, which currently runs only on the East Coast Main Line between London King's Cross and Edinburgh. The new West Coast services were initially planned to start this year, but FirstGroup said they are 'currently expected to commence mid-2026 following the delivery of the trains and staff training'. The company said the agreement with Eversholt Rail is for five Class 222 diesel trains, each with a capacity for about 340 standard-class seats. It expects the services will achieve annual sales of about £50 million and a 'low double-digit' operating profit margin. The Government started the process of renationalising all remaining franchised train services last month when it brought South Western Railway into public ownership. Lumo runs on a separate open access basis, meaning it sets its own fares, takes on all revenue risk and receives no taxpayer-funded subsidies. In January, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander wrote to ORR chairman Declan Collier expressing concerns that the open access model can cause 'potential congestion' and result in taxpayers being 'left to fill shortfalls' in maintenance costs. She stated it is her 'expectation' that 'the impacts on the taxpayer and on overall performance' are 'given primacy' by the regulator when it analyses proposals. FirstGroup chief executive Graham Sutherland said: 'The mobilisation of our new service between London and Stirling is another important step towards rolling out Lumo as a nationwide operator and growing our open access capacity, a key priority for the group. 'Our investment and capabilities in open access rail have delivered reliable, value-for-money services, grown rail demand and helped to spur economic growth and connect communities. 'We look forward to doing the same on our new services.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data