Lumo originated in 2015 with the submission of a bid by FirstGroup to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to establish a new open-access operator to use additional rail paths on East Coast Main Line. It faced competition from Alliance Rail Holdings, whose bid was rejected due to high estimated revenue abstraction from the existing franchised operator. In May 2016, the ORR granted a ten-year track access agreement to the FirstGroup subsidiary East Coast Trains Limited, which would later be rebranded as Lumo. During March 2019, a £100million order for five Class 803electric multiple unit high speed trains was placed to operate Lumo's services.
Lumo's inaugural service was conducted on 25 October 2021. Initial operations involved the running of two trains per day in each direction on most week days; this was expanded to five trains per day by early 2022. Onboard catering is available, consisting of an at-seat trolley service, while an identical all-standard class two-by-two seating arrangement is present in every carriage.
Under the proposal, FirstGroup planned to compete directly with existing road, rail, and air services by offering all-standard class accommodation with an average ticket price of approximately £25.[1] A rival application from Alliance Rail Holdings was also submitted but was rejected by the ORR after projected revenue abstraction from VTEC was estimated at £115 million. By comparison, FirstGroup’s proposal was forecast to abstract £7.9 million.[2][3]
In May 2016, the ORR granted a ten-year track access agreement to FirstGroup subsidiary East Coast Trains Limited, permitting it to operate up to five services in each direction from May 2021.[4][5][6] This made it the third open-access operator on the East Coast Main Line, following Hull Trains and Grand Central. At the time, it was acknowledged that services would not commence until 2021 to allow for the procurement of new-build rolling stock.[2]
In September 2021, the company confirmed its launch under the Lumo brand, described as a combination of “luminosity” (Lu) and “motion” (mo).[7][2] Two months later, Lumo relocated to its permanent headquarters in Newcastle upon Tyne.[8] In June 2022, Martijn Gilbert was appointed managing director of both Lumo and Hull Trains, succeeding Phil Cameron and David Gibson respectively.[9]
In February 2024, Lumo announced that it was in discussions to extend some Edinburgh services to Glasgow.[10] This was followed in May 2024 by proposals to operate services from London Euston to Rochdale via Manchester Victoria from 2027, subject to ORR approval.[11][12]
In December 2024, following FirstGroup’s acquisition of Grand Union Trains, it was announced that the proposed London Paddington to Carmarthen service would be operated by Lumo, with five return services daily. At the same time, an application was submitted to the ORR for track access rights to operate five daily return services between London Paddington and Paignton, along with a sixth service to Highbridge and Burnham.[13][14]
In June 2025, again following the acquisition of Grand Union Trains, it was confirmed that the proposed London Euston–Stirling service would also operate under the Lumo brand. The service, expected to commence in mid-2026, would call at Milton Keynes Central, Nuneaton, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet, Greenfaulds, Larbert and Stirling. Four return services are planned to operate Monday to Saturday, with three on Sundays, alongside an additional return service between Preston and London Euston.[15][16]
Services between Glasgow Queen Street and London King’s Cross commenced on 15 December 2025. On weekdays, one southbound and two northbound services operate; on Sundays, one service runs in each direction from 2 January 2026, while no services operate on Saturdays.[17][18][19]
On 26 May 2021, the first trial runs of the company's Class 803 high speed multiple units on the national rail network were conducted.[20]
On 25 October 2021, the inaugural service commenced; initially, Lumo operated two trains per day in each direction on most week days, although Saturdays saw only one train being run for a time. From the onset of operations, the service rate was set to be progressively increased up to running five trains each way by early 2022.[21][22] At launch, Lumo promised that 60% of fares would be offered for no more than £30, with a cap of £69 on one-way tickets.[23][24][22] According to the company, ticket sales around the launch date had exceeded expectations, and it had experienced particularly high demand for its weekend services.[25][24]
As of December2025[update], Lumo's timetable sees trains depart each terminus at off-peak times. The vast majority of journeys run the full route from Edinburgh to London, calling at Morpeth and Newcastle. A number of services additionally call at Stevenage, for pick-up only on northbound services, and drop-off only for southbound trains. Two trains per day northbound extend to Glasgow Queen Street and one train per day starts from there. The fastest service reaches London from Edinburgh in 4hours and 3minutes, although the majority take around 4hours and 30minutes.[26]
Stevenage is served by two trains northbound and three trains southbound Monday to Saturday, and by three trains northbound and four trains southbound on Sundays.
Two trains per day northbound and one train per day southbound extend to and from Glasgow Queen Street, calling at Haymarket and Falkirk High.
Operations
A Lumo Class 803, April 2022
Lumo offers a single-class service, with free Wi-Fi connectivity for all passengers. The company promotes itself as a “digital-first” operator, emphasising its focus on paperless ticketing options and its website.[22] It also participates in the National Rail system and accepts interoperable tickets.[27]
A two-by-two seating arrangement is fitted throughout all five carriages, with a pair of large tables per carriage.[22][27] The ergonomically designed wingback seats are furnished with various amenities, including individual lighting and electric sockets, fold-down tables, and shaping to provide a greater sense of privacy. Priority seats are also present, along with two spaces for wheelchair users, on each train.[22][24] Onboard catering is available, consisting of an at-seat trolley service. Various forms of media content, including films and television shows, can be streamed by passengers using the company's mobile app.[28]
Rolling stock
Current
The interior of a Lumo Class 803
Services are operated by a fleet of 125mph (200km/h)Class 803electric multiple unit trains, ordered in March 2019 at a cost of £100million, financed by the rail leasing company Beacon Rail.[25] While based on the same Hitachi AT300 design as the Class 801 Azuma trains operated on the East Coast Main Line by franchised operator London North Eastern Railway (LNER), they are not fitted with an auxiliary diesel engine, but instead feature batteries intended solely to power onboard facilities in case of overhead line equipment failure.[29] Other changes include an all-standard class seating configuration, as well as the lack of a galley area, although catering services are provided through the use of a trolley service. The Class 803 also features air conditioning, power sockets and Wi-Fi provision.[30]
On 2 June 2025, FirstGroup announced they had entered into rolling stock leases with Eversholt Rail for 5 existing Class 222 trains in order to serve the new London Euston-Stirling service, with services expected to commence in mid-2026.[15][39]
Accidents and incidents
On 17 April 2022, a Lumo-operated Class 803 passed through a set of points at Peterborough railway station at 75mph (121km/h) where there was a speed restriction of 25mph (40km/h). Some passengers were thrown from their seats and sustained minor injuries. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch opened an investigation into the incident.[40]
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