FirstGroup will be launching its open access Lumo service between Stirling and London this month.
Access rights were granted by the Office of Rail and Road in March 2024, but more recent applications for other routes have not succeeded.
Alstom has signed a contract worth £50 million with FirstGroup and Eversholt Rail to refurbish and maintain five 6-car Class 222 Meridian sets for the service, which starts on 25 May.
The new service will connect London Euston and Stirling, calling at Milton Keynes Central, Nuneaton, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet (for Coatbridge), Greenfaulds (for Cumbernauld) and Larbert.
First already runs Lumo-branded services on the East Coast Main Line between London and Edinburgh, which were later extended to Glasgow.
First Rail open access managing director Stuart Jones said: ‘This is a very exciting moment in our journey to launching a pioneering new service for the West Coast. Customers can look forward to simple, low-cost fares with an excellent experience on our services between Scotland, the North West of England and London.
‘I’m very proud that we’re already forging some meaningful connections in the communities on the route. Thank you to the team at Stirling Pride for helping us to reveal the news of our official start date in true Lumo style, by giving people in the city a chance to join us on a journey very soon.’
Stirling Pride returns on 29 August. Lumo also supports Glasgow’s Pride, Edinburgh Pride and Pride in Gateshead.
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