In Britain, Lumo plans Glasgow and Newcastle expansion
The low-cost and highly popular passenger carrier, Lumo, has announced plans to expand its core London and Edinburgh service. The East Coast Main Line ‘open access’ operation says it is examining the possibility of extending services through to Glasgow. It is also looking at the market for a new, dedicated service for Newcastle passengers. If successful, it would be the first time the operator has served Scotland’s biggest city, and would significantly enhance service levels at Newcastle has had its own servicing originating and terminating there.
Direct services between Glasgow and destinations on the East Coast have all but been abandoned by the regulated passenger train operators. However, a plan by the market-shaking passenger train operating company Lumo could see direct rail travel opportunities open up once again. By the Summer of next year, Lumo hopes to reconnect the West of Scotland with Morpeth, Newcastle, Stevenage, and London King’s Cross. Their hopes for dedicated Newcastle services are shorter term, with December’s timetable change targeted.
Reconnecting Glasgow with the East Coast
Transport conglomerate FirstGroup’s open access operation Lumo (a train operating company not commercially supported by Government subsidy), has been a hit with passengers and commercial success since its inauguration in October 2021. known for its popular all-electric train services between London and Edinburgh, Lumo is now eyeing expansions to its routes. The bold blue trains are aiming to include Glasgow in its network, and also introduce a new service between London and Newcastle. These moves mark significant steps in enhancing connectivity between Glasgow and the East Coast, and a feather in the cap of sustainable rail travel.
In its recent announcement, FirstGroup disclosed that Lumo is in discussions with Transport Scotland (the devolved Scottish government’s agency) and Network Rail to extend some of its London-Edinburgh trains to Glasgow. This expansion initiative, expected to materialise in 2025, aims to cater to the growing demand for direct rail services between major cities. Although a route has not been designated, there is the likelihood of services taking up vacated train paths via Carstairs Junction, where Network Rail recently completed a huge overhaul. If so, that would open up the potential for also serving Motherwell – a large community which has also lost East Coast services.
Significant environmental benefits of switching to rail
The proposed Glasgow services aim to streamline travel for passengers travelling between Newcastle and Glasgow. Lumo says that their through trains will eliminate the need for train changes. The operator seeks to offer a seamless journey for its existing London-Edinburgh passengers. They say that passengers often continue their travel to Glasgow through other connections.
Graham Sutherland, CEO of FirstGroup plc, the parent of Lumo, expressed enthusiasm about the prospect, highlighting the potential for growth and the environmental benefits associated with rail travel. “We are looking at options to grow by extending the service from Edinburgh to Glasgow from next year”, he said. “We have seen the level of growth and opportunity that is possible with new open access connections, including the significant environmental benefits of passengers switching to rail.”
Many Glasgow connections abandoned
Meanwhile, Lumo is also exploring plans to add an extra return journey each day between Newcastle and London. This initiative, subject to approval, could accommodate up to an additional 277,000 passengers annually. The proposed new early morning service from Newcastle to London and an additional evening return journey aim to meet the rising demand for sustainable travel options. The proposed expansions are currently undergoing refinement in terms of route options and timings in collaboration with Network Rail. Pending approval from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), the UK regulator, Lumo anticipates commencing the additional services as early as summer 2025 for Glasgow and December 2024 for Newcastle.
Glasgow has been previously served by several operators, running through trains to East Coast destinations. However, since the pandemic, CrossCountry has removed a regular two-hourly service which ran through to York and destinations as far away as Plymouth. LNER, the UK government’s shadow company on the main East Coast service, has progressively cut back operations east of Edinburgh. Until recently, Glasgow did have an anomalous connection with Newcastle. ScotRail trains connected the cities via a circuitous route through South West Scotland and the Tyne Valley.
Further reading:
Suggest you check out reviews on Trust Pilot before getting to excited about more Lumo!
And more ‘competition’ more fares, confusion and exasperation for passenger, especially those looking at switching from road? All a bit complicated and unreliable, so easier to jump into the car (even if it means listening to a podcast or their music in a jam)