SHORTLY AFTER FirstGroup announced plans to increase its Hull Trains open access operation to serve Sheffield (Railways Illustrated issue 253), the company is now looking at expanding some of its Lumo open access services through to Glasgow.
Based in Newcastle, Lumo started operating on the East Coast Main Line between London King’s Cross to Edinburgh Waverley in October 2021, with services operated by a small fleet of five Hitachi Class 803 five-coach electric multiple units. Lumo also calls at Stevenage (not all services), Newcastle and Morpeth between the two capital cities.
FirstGroup is currently in discussions with Transport Scotland and Network Rail to extend some Lumo services from Edinburgh to and from Glasgow. The organisations are working on final route options and timings before making a formal application to the Office of Rail and Road for access rights. It is expected that the services, which could be launched from next summer, will not require any additional trains being added to the current Lumo fleet.
Lumo said that the plan will improve links for passengers travelling between Newcastle and Glasgow, providing a choice of services without the need to change train
