A year with the North East success story that's blue...and green.
It’s three years since the blue-liveried Lumo trains first appeared on our tracks. They’ve been an instant success and continue to grow customer numbers, currently averaging at around one million per year and ambitions to run more routes.
The blue trains are also green. They’re 25 times kinder to the environment than flying with around 96% CO2 saved compared to driving or flying, so you can feel smug while travelling to Edinburgh, Morpeth, London King’s Cross or Stevenage. If you need some proof, Lumo was awarded ‘Green Innovation Business of the Year’ at this summer’s prestigious North East Chamber of Commerce awards and more recently Best Business at Reducing Carbon Emissions at the Institute of Supply Chain Management Awards. Not only are their all-electric trains eco-friendly, Lumo was also the first longdistance train company to replace onboard drinks in plastic bottles with sustainable alternatives.
Lumo has big ideas for the future.
Bit of background.
If you’ve ever stood at Newcastle Central Station, you’ll know what a busy place it is…as soon as one train departs, it’s only a matter of minutes before another pulls in. So, how on Earth does a train company like Lumo come along and start running brand new services on a seriously busy route?
The answer is Open Access.
In plain English this means that the clever folk at Lumo identified gaps in the timetable to operate services to help attract more customers to rail. Their business model is also extremely streamlined…bit like their Hitachi trains which were built at Newton Aycliffe…which means they can offer seriously competitive fares while maintaining a high standard of service.
They also travel at convenient times. One of their most popular departures leaves Newcastle at just before 8.00am and gets 400 passengers…non-stop…to London for 10.46. If Morpeth station is handier for you…good news. That train, which started in Edinburgh at 06.23, calls into Morpeth at 07.38. Fares from Morpeth to Edinburgh start from £7.80 and £30.90 for Morpeth to London King’s Cross. Customers can take advantage of fee-free booking when buying from the Lumo website with tickets available for several months in advance.
It’s also no coincidence that since Lumo began operating its service from Morpeth that the Northumberland town has seen a host of new businesses opening and local visitor attractions, retail and hospitality reporting a steep rise in attendances.
Open Access allows Lumo to fit extra services into its schedule. For example, when England played BosniaHerzegovina in a friendly at James’ Park in June (England won 3-nil by the way), Lumo helped fans by adding a 22.20 departure from Newcastle to King’s Cross. The company also put on an extra service to help Gateshead FC fans return from London following the FA Trophy final which the Heed won on penalties.
Oh…and staying with the theme of extra services, Lumo is looking to the future. The company is aiming to launch a host of new services and new destinations.
First-up are plans fora new early departure from Newcastle and an additional return journey from London King’s Cross. This will add a staggering 277,000 seats each year and see an overall increase of 15 per cent in the Lumo capacity.
Lumo is also hoping to extend some of its Edinburgh – King’s Cross services across Scotland to begin and end in Glasgow.
Another route under discussion is between Rochdale and London, reviving a route which was closed in 2000. Lumo trains would call at Manchester Victoria, Eccles, Newton-leWillows and Warrington Bank Quay before heading non-stop to London Euston.
Lumo will also continue to work closely with local organisations along its routes. For example they work closely with Newcastle Falcons, Newcastle Eagles, Northern Pride, Newcastle College, the Donzoko brewery, Beamish Museum and Tanfield Railway to name just a few. You’ll find locally sourced products on their services with tea from Ringtons, Train beer from Donzoko, a specially commissioned single malt scotch whisky thanks to a new partnership with Holyrood Distillery in Edinburgh and, if you’re feeling seriously peckish, why not tuck into a choice of stotties from Newcastle’s Big River Bakery.
And Lumo never forgets those people who may need a bit of help. Every year they choose a charity to support. Their charity partner for 2024/25 is The Charlie & Carter Foundation which was launched in South Shields in 2013 to provide support to the parents of children with life limiting illnesses.
Well done Lumo.
For more information on what Lumo has to offer and to catch-up on departure times, log onto their website www.lumo.co.uk
You’ll also find details about things to do and places to visit in all of the Lumo destinations.