A new open-access rail company looks set
to bring cheaper fares to the east coast mainline route in the UK.
From Monday 25 October, Lumo will run high
speed, 100 per cent electric train services between London and Edinburgh,
calling at Stevenage, Newcastle & Morpeth. The operator is owned by First Group
and will compete on the route with government-run LNER.
Open-access firms are those that have not been awarded a franchise contract by the government and do not have to meet the same timetabling and fare commitments as other operators, although they still have to be granted a licence to operate. Grand Central and Hull Trains operate in the same way.
Lumo will offer a single class of service with two types of fare: LumoFixed and Anytime. LumoFixed
fares are only valid on the date and train booked, but can be changed
free of charge right up to departure. Travellers will need to pay any
difference in fare. Anytime fares can be used on any train on the date on the ticket and
return any time within a month.
The company says LumoFixed fares are up
to 75 per cent cheaper than Anytime fares.
LumoFixed fares between London and Edinburgh start from £19.90. As
a comparison, LNER’s cheapest single fare for Lumo’s launch day is currently £31.80.
The services will be run using Hitachi
AT300 all electric trains – similar to the Azuma trains used by LNER
on the route.
Sustainability measures will continue onboard:
the company promises to be 100 per cent digital, offering e-tickets rather than
paper ones, the crew uniforms are responsibly sourced and are entirely
recyclable, while more than 50 per cent of the onboard menu will be plant-based.
Helen Wylde, managing director for Lumo,
said: “Travelling in the UK should not cost a fortune and it certainly
shouldn’t be the planet that pays. Whatever your preferred mode of transport,
we are likely to be more affordable and kinder to the planet.
“We believe everyone has the right
to travel in style. We are empowering people to make green travel choices that
are genuinely affordable without compromising on comfort.”