We do love some train news, and this one’s an exciting one! Passengers could soon have more options when travelling from London to Glasgow, with FirstGroup’s brand new direct train in the works. With more choices of train operators, travellers will be awarded more freedom when choosing sustainable travel instead of flying.
Currently, there is only Avanti West Coast which operates a direct train service between London and Glasgow. However, Lumo services could soon become a reality, as First Group reports a noteworthy amount of passengers already travel to Glasgow via other connections. What is more, a new direct train would also mean passengers would get a straight shot from Newcastle to Glasgow.
While the exact date of when the new service will go live is yet to be revealed, FirstGroup has reported being in contact with the Scottish Government’s agency Transport Scotland and infrastructure management company Network Rail to help determine the best route and travel times.
If everything goes ahead as per the proposals, the new direct train service between London and Glasgow should commence in the summer of 2025. So, not that long left after all!
Lumo was launched in October 2021, providing a quick, direct service between Edinburgh and London, and has proven to be a hit offering competitive prices. We expect the new trains to Glasgow to be just as popular, so fingers crossed it goes ahead!
FirstGroup chief executive Graham Sutherland said: “We are very pleased to be looking at options to grow our popular Lumo train service by extending the service from Edinburgh to Glasgow from next year.”
“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. We will be working closely with stakeholders as we refine this opportunity and our case for this new offering.”
