Lumo has secured five class 222 six car trains
Lumo, a leading private train operator, has announced that it has secured five Class 222 six-car trains for its forthcoming route between London Euston and Stirling, beginning as early as Spring 2026. This expansion aims to enhance travel choice and connectivity for passengers along the central belt of Scotland both to England and to Stirling, offering five daily services with the operator renowned for affordability and efficiency.
In a press statement, Lumo says that its announcement was made at a special event hosted by Lumo in Holyrood, attended by cross-party Members of Scottish Parliament and Scotland’s MPs. Featuring a keynote address from Sue Webber MSP, Scotland’s Conservative Transport Spokesperson, the reception highlighted Lumo’s ongoing commitment to Scotland and emphasised how the operator creates new connections for communities previously underserved by the existing rail network, including the first ever direct route between Greenfaulds and London.
Lumo says its new route will link London Euston directly to Stirling, also calling at Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet, which will serve Coatbridge, Greenfaulds to serve Cumbernauld and Larbert. Significantly, this new route gives Whifflet, Greenfaulds, and Larbert their first-ever direct rail services to London, providing substantial economic benefits and new travel opportunities.
The statement adds that the expansion builds upon Lumo’s successful Edinburgh route, operating via Edinburgh Waverley, Morpeth, Newcastle, Stevenage, and London King’s Cross, which has been instrumental in increasing rail travel’s mode share compared to air between Edinburgh and London. Lumo is currently awaiting regulatory approval from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to further extend services to Glasgow, boosting connectivity for Scotland’s passengers making domestic journeys and those across the border.
Martijn Gilbert
“Today’s announcement underscores Lumo’s commitment to growing Scotland’s rail network, providing passengers with 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’re proud to deliver this direct rail connectivity to towns previously overlooked by traditional rail services. We are focussed on further expanding our services in Scotland to ensure even greater connectivity across the country and the whole UK,” says Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director, Lumo.
“Lumo is actively investing in our capital city, not only bringing in tourists but also supporting our vibrant hospitality and events sector. And this isn’t just talk: we’re looking at £740 million in economic benefits from Lumo by 2032.
Sue Webber
“Crucially, this is being delivered not by government mandate, but through private sector innovation and open access investment. That’s why I believe this model is one we should be championing. Lumo is not replacing existing services – it’s adding capacity, increasing choice, and growing the market for everyone,” said Sue Webber MSP, Conservative Transport Spokesperson.
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