FirstGroup has ordered a fleet of trains for its London-Stirling route that will provide a number of Scottish stations with their first direct services to London.
The company, which acquired Grand Union Wcml last year, has gained “open access” rail services for the route. Open access rail operators are set up with solely private investment and take full commercial risk and opportunity.
The current track access agreement runs until 2030 and includes four return services a day (three on Sundays).
FirstGroup is leasing five Class 222 six-car diesel trains with Eversholt Rail, with seating for about 340 passengers. Services are expected to begin in the middle of next year.
The new service will be operated under the Lumo brand and will provide more choice for passengers with significantly increased direct connections to and from London and central and southern Scotland.
Stations served will include Stirling, Larbert, Greenfaulds (serving Cumbernauld), Whifflet (serving Coatbridge), Motherwell, Lockerbie, Carlisle, Preston, Crewe, Nuneaton, Milton Keynes and London Euston. Of these stations, Whifflet, Greenfaulds and Larbert will have their first direct services to London.
FirstGroup expects annual revenues of c.£50m and a low double digit operating profit margin.
The benefits of the successful open access model, recognised by Government and the independent regulator ORR, include connecting under-served places, helping to drive economic growth and providing additional capacity on core routes which can push a modal shift away from carbon-intensive travel.
Chief executive Graham Sutherland said: “The mobilisation of our new service between London and Stirling is another important step towards rolling out Lumo as a nationwide operator and growing our open access capacity, a key priority for the Group.
“Our investment and capabilities in open access rail have delivered reliable, value for money services, grown rail demand and helped to spur economic growth and connect communities. We look forward to doing the same on our new services.”
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