Latest news with #Lumo
The Courier
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Courier
'Budget' Stirling to London rail services to begin next year
A new train service connecting Stirling to London is set to begin next year. Electric train operator Lumo will launch the new West Coast route to London Euston in mid 2026 There will be four return journeys per day and three on a Sunday. A return service between Euston and Preston will also operate daily. Stations served will include: Launched in 2021, Lumo operates trains between London King's Cross and Edinburgh. It is seen as a budget option for London services compared to other operators. Currently, there are limited direct rail links between Stirling and London. The Caledonian Sleeper and LNER offer some journeys. LNER and Avanti West Coast services are available from Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Stirling to London rail connection was first announced in 2024. Grand Union Trains was to run four return services per day from June 2025. First Group, which owns Lumo, then acquired Grand Union and the track access rights. These rights, obtained from the Office of Rail and Road, are in place until 2030. First Group expects the services to achieve annual sales of around £50 million and a 'low double-digit' operating profit margin. Chief executive officer 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.'
The Herald Scotland
14 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
New London-Stirling train service expected to begin in 2026
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. READ MORE: 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. New rail services between London and central Scotland are expected to launch in mid-2026 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.'
The National
17 hours ago
- Business
- The National
New London-Stirling train service expected in mid-2026
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. READ MORE: Nigel Farage 'hates idea of Scotland having its own Parliament', says John Swinney 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. READ MORE: Man, 20, charged after allegedly raping girl, 15, in Edinburgh 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.'
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Stirling to London rail service to launch in 2026
A new direct daily train service between Stirling and London is set to launch in which is part of FirstGroup, will run four return services a day, with three on trains will also call at Larbert, Greenfaulds, Whifflet, Motherwell and Lockerbie en-route to Lumo brand currently runs 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 it had secured a deal with rolling stock company Eversholt Rail in relation to the planned new UK government started the process of renationalising all remaining franchised train services last month when it brought South Western Railway into public runs on a separate open access basis, meaning it sets its own fares, takes on all revenue risk and receives no taxpayer-funded are currently only two daily trains to London that stop at Stirling - the Highland Chieftain from Inverness, and the Caledonian new service will compete with Avanti West Coast and the publicly-owned ScotRail, TransPennine Express and chief executive Graham Sutherland said: "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."
The Independent
17 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
England-Scotland rail rivalry set to create cheaper travel for passengers
Lumo, an 'open-access' operator and part of FirstGroup, will introduce five daily trains each way between London Euston and Stirling starting in spring 2026. The new service will stop at 10 stations, including Larbert, Greenfaulds, and Whifflet, which have never had direct London train services. This initiative marks the first time Avanti West Coast will face open access competition, potentially lowering fares and attracting airline passengers to rail. The Office for Rail and Road approved the plan in March 2024, aiming to increase services and boost competition, offering passengers more choices in origin and price. Lumo's managing director, Martijn Gilbert, highlights the potential for significant economic opportunities and improved connectivity for previously overlooked communities along the route. Cheaper Stirling-London train tickets? Anglo-Scottish rail rivalry to start in spring 2026
