A low-cost rail operator will be a new train service between London and stirling of the following spring with passengers in the hope of taking advantage of cheaper rates.
Lumo will operate the trains from Euston and call Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet, Greenfaulds and Larbert.
Four daily return services run from Monday to Saturday and three on Sundays, with extra daily returns between Euston and Preston.
The route will also provide first direct services to London for three stations – Whifflet, Serving Coatbridge; Greenfaulds, served Cumbernauld; and Larbert.
The transport giant FirstGroup said the planned new route could now continue after it obtained an agreement with the Rolling Stock Company Eversholt Rail for the use of five trains.
Stirling currently has only two direct daily trains serving London – one on London North Eastern Railway (Lner) in the day and another on Caledonian Sleeper at night.
The new Lumo trains also offer competition for Avanti West Coast that runs trains between Euston and other Scottish cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The Lumo brand of FirstGroup is currently only on the East Coast main line between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh, and calls at Stevenage, Newcastle and Morpeth.
An artist’s impression of a new Lumo train service running from Stirling to London Euston
This route was launched in 2021 with the aim of being a challenger to Lner, providing cheaper rates and an alternative to low-cost air journey between London and Scotland.
Zoe Adjey, senior lecturer in tourism and hospitality at the University of East London, said the rates on the route would be ‘definitely cheaper’ if Lumo started running.
As it stands now, it travels from London to Stirling on the Daily Lner service -which lasts for five hours and 15 minutes -£ 97.50 for a super -off -peak peak game. Advance singles start at £ 34.40.
Ms. Adjey said Subway: “Improving the service will significantly improve the passenger experience, especially compared to air journey.”
She added: ‘Passengers will get downtown downtown downtown, eliminating long airport transfers and safety procedures.
‘It’s like choosing and flying between Eurostar as you travel to Paris or Brussels. The train offers greater ease despite the longer travel time. ‘
She also said that the higher frequency of services will provide “greater scheduling bend and reduced waiting times”, and it will help to give those living in London and Scotland more easily access to tourism.
The IndependentTravel correspondent Simon Calder wrote: ‘Experience at the East Coast Main Line, where Lumo competes with Lner between London and Edinburgh, suggests that rates will fall and some aviation passengers will move to the track as the market expands.’
He added: ‘In addition to serving passengers living or working on the route, the new link will increase travel opportunities to and from Perth, Aberdeen and Inverness, and connect with Scotrail Services at Stirling.
“The portion of the trip connecting London to Crewe, Preston and Carlisle can lead to lower rates on these core avanti West Coast trails.”
The trains offer direct ties between London and Stirling, known for its castle (in the photo)
First group in Aberdeen holds track access rights of regulator The Office of Rail and Road (Orr) for the route on the West Coast main line until 2030.
Trains are operated under the Lumo brand of FirstGroup, which is currently only on the East Coast Main Line between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh Waverley, and calls at Stevenage, Newcastle and Morpeth.
The existing daily Lner service between King’s Cross and Stirling calls in York, Darlington, Newcastle, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Edinburgh Waverley, Edinburgh Haymarket and Falkirk Grahamston.
The new West Coast services were initially planned to start this year, but FirstGroup said that in the mid-2026 that the delivery of trains and staff training was expected to start in the mid-2026.
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 to achieve annual sales of around £ 50m and a ‘low double-digit’ operating profit margin.
The trains that will be used on the route are Class 222 Meridian units previously operated by East Midlands Railway and are being renovated in a £ 50m agreement with Alstom.
The contract contains a £ 10m Fleet Modernization program with Eversholt Rail, which will be run at Alstom’s facility in Widnes, Cheshire.
Four Lumo trains will run from London Euston Station (in the photo) to Stirling
Lumo is also awaiting regulatory approval of the Orr to further extend services to Glasgow.
The government started the process last month to renew all remaining franchise train services when it brought South Western Railway into public ownership.
Lumo works on a separate open access base, which means it sets its own rates, adopt all income risk and receive no subsidies funded by taxpayers.
In January, Heidi Alexander, Transport Secretary, wrote to the chairman of the Orr, Declan Collier, who expressed concern that the open access model “could cause” potential congestion “and result in taxpayers’ left to fill shortcomings in the maintenance costs.
She said it is her ‘expectation’ that ‘the impact on the taxpayer and on overall performance’ by the regulator ‘priority’ is when analyzing proposals.
Martijn Gilbert, managing director of Lumo, added: ‘Today’s announcement underlines Lumo’s commitment to the growth of Scotland’s rail network, which offers passengers more affordable, fast and convenient travel options.
‘Our new service between Stirling and London has the potential to unlock significant economic opportunities for communities along the route, and we are proud to deliver this direct rail connection to towns previously overlooked by traditional tracking services.
A Lumo train at London King’s Cross, from which the operator currently runs to Edinburgh
“We are focused on the further expansion of our services in Scotland to ensure even greater connectivity across the country and the entire UK.”
Graham Sutherland, CEO of first groups, said: ‘The mobilization of our new service between London and Stirling is another important step towards Lumo as a nationwide operator and the growth of our open access capacity, a major priority for the group.
‘Our investment and capabilities in Open Access Rail provided reliable, value-for-money services, helped the demand for the railway and economic growth and connect communities. We look forward to doing the same to our new services. ‘
And conservative transport spokesman Sue Webber MSP said: ‘Lumo is investing actively in our capital – not only bringing tourists, but also supporting our live sector for hospitality and opportunities. And it’s not just talking: We look at £ 740m to economic benefits of Lumo by 2032.
‘Is of great importance that it is not delivered by the government mandate, but through innovation in the private sector and investment in open access. Therefore, I believe that this model is one that we must advocate. Lumo does not replace existing services – it adds capacity, increases the choice and grows the market for everyone. ‘
The leader of the Stirling Council, Gerry McGarvey, added: ‘We were consistent to support this proposal, so it is fantastic news that Lumo confirmed that it will operate this route, which will increase Stirling’s already excellent rail and transport connections with cities in the UK.
“Having four daily trace trips between Stirling and London will support greater inner investments and growth in the business world, including important economic sectors such as tourism, as well as raising travel opportunities for residents.”
