New rail service promises Edinburgh to London trains for £15

A new fully electric rail service is promising to run trains from Edinburgh to London for fares starting lower than £15.

Lumo, owned by Aberdeen based FirstGroup, will start running budget journeys on the East Coast Main Line in October in the hope of enticing customers with cheaper fares.

The company said single tickets will cost as little as £14.90 and 60% of fares will be under £30 on their five new 100% electric Hitachi intercity trains.

Running up to ten services per day, as an open access service, Lumo hopes to carry a million passengers between the Scottish and English capitals – more than currently fly between the cities.

Helen Wylde, managing director, said: “Travelling in the UK should not cost a fortune and it certainly shouldn’t be the planet that pays. Whatever your preferred mode of transport, we are likely to be more affordable and kinder to the planet.”

Lumo trains will also call at Newcastle, Morpeth and Stevenage. It is hoped this will encourage travellers to opt to go by rail rather than fly to Newcastle and Luton airports.

Fifteen million pounds has been invested in Lumo’s digital and IT infrastructure and £100m in the manufacture and maintenance of the five new AT300 intercity electric trains with the brand stressing its green credentials.

More than half of the on board catering menu will be plant-based, staff uniforms are responsibly sourced and recyclable, and it said it saves paper waste by being a digital-first business.

Ms Wylde said: “Travelling by rail is already the greenest form of long-distance travel in the UK.

“Lumo will take this further, being the greenest in class with state-of-the-art electric trains and a service to match.

“We have a commitment to finding greener, smarter and more comfortable ways to get people from A to B – and we welcome anyone’s perspective on that.”