Lumo Launches Affordable Direct Rail Service Between Glasgow and London
Lumo, the all-electric train operator, has officially launched a new affordable and direct rail service connecting Glasgow with Falkirk, Edinburgh, the North East of England, and London.
Fares for the service start from just £33.10 between London and Glasgow, with journeys between Newcastle and Glasgow available from as little as £10.90. The low-cost fares, combined with Lumo’s high customer satisfaction scores, are expected to make travel between these key destinations even more accessible.
The launch was celebrated with a lively event for the inaugural service, which departed Glasgow Queen Street at 18:16 and arrived at London King’s Cross one minute ahead of schedule. Entertainment included a performance by Storm Electric Strings, a comedy set from Connor Burns of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival, and a special appearance by Scottish TikTok sensation boyband Just The Brave. Lumo has also announced its support for the Glasgow International Comedy Festival in 2026 and for Glasgow Pride.
Stuart Jones, Managing Director of First Rail Open Access, said:
“This is a landmark moment which will boost connectivity between Scotland and England, offering a sustainable travel option whilst also boosting economic growth. It was a particular pleasure to celebrate the launch of our inaugural services in style with a brilliant range of guests from our dedicated team, as well as our partners from Scotland and across the border. We’re proud to champion Scotland and look forward to providing the unique Lumo service to even more customers from this week.”
To mark the occasion, Lumo unveiled a bespoke Lumo tartan designed by Houston Kiltmakers, with launch guests receiving limited edition scarves.
Ken Macdonald, Vice-Chairman of the Scottish Tartans Authority, said:
"It’s a pleasure to work with like-minded people who appreciate Scotland and all it has to offer. I’m absolutely delighted that we were able to play a part in Lumo launching in Glasgow and look forward to seeing our new tartan design out and about in Scotland and across the border."
Scottish broadcaster Bev Lyons added:
“The Lumo team are fabulous and I’m so thrilled that they have officially brought their unique service to my home city of Glasgow! We’ve been crying out for an affordable and direct link to the North East and London and I know that this service will be valued by many people. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Lumo over the past few months and it’s great to see the company backing local events such as the Glasgow Comedy Festival, as well as the likes of Glasgow Pride. Welcome, Lumo!”
Paul Tetlaw, Director of Policy at Transform Scotland, said:
“We welcome the new Lumo services from Glasgow and Falkirk via the East Coast Main Line. There is a significant market of people who currently drive or fly to the North East of England and London who now have the opportunity to switch to the train. The new services soon to be launched from Stirling will help to build on that modal shift to rail.”
Currently, the service offers two northbound trains each weekday and one southbound journey. It is expected to provide a boost for visitors attending the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July 2026. Lumo has also announced plans to expand its network with a new route connecting Stirling to London Euston, starting in May 2026.
Image: Lumo