New direct train service between Glasgow and London proposed due to ‘significant’ demand

A new rail service between Glasgow and London has been proposed by the railway company due to “huge” demand from customers.

Transport company FirstGroup has announced plans to extend its London to Edinburgh service under its Lumo brand to Glasgow.

Direct trains between London and Glasgow are currently only operated by Avanti West Coast.

First Group said a “significant number” of Lumo passengers were currently traveling to and from Glasgow via other connections.

This extension will allow passengers to choose services during their journey without having to change trains.

The company’s network expansion plans will also include direct services between Newcastle and Glasgow.

First Group said it was in discussions with Scottish government agency Transport Scotland and infrastructure management company Network Rail about route options and operating times.

If all goes to plan, the company hopes to launch its service in Glasgow as early as next summer.

Graham Sutherland, CEO of First Group, said: “We are delighted that we are considering options to expand 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 enabled by new open access connections, including the huge environmental benefits of passengers switching to rail.

“We will continue to work closely with our stakeholders to improve this opportunity and this new service offering.”

Launched in October 2021, Lumo operates on an open access basis, meaning it receives no taxpayer subsidies and assumes all revenue risk.

Most train operators in the UK are paid a management fee and the UK government is responsible for costs and revenues.

ScotRail and Transport for Wales Rail are publicly owned.

Last month, First Group announced plans to operate a new open access service between London’s Kings Cross and Sheffield from the second half of next year.

Railway Minister Hugh Merriman said last week that the open access system was “going from strength to strength” and would “speed up” the application process by making unused timetable slots available, allowing more trains to run. He said he plans to attract companies.

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