Lumo’s long-awaited expansion in Scotland can be explained in timetables, journey times and fare prices.
As of last month, new Lumo services now connect Glasgow Queen Street and Falkirk with Edinburgh Haymarket, feeding into an established East Coast route that links the capital with Newcastle and down to London King’s Cross. Fares start from £33 between Glasgow and London, and less than £11 between Glasgow and Newcastle. The trains are 100 per cent electric and, for the first time since late 2024, Glasgow once again has a direct East Coast link to London.
Those may be the headlines. But they’re not really the point.
The real significance of Lumo’s Scottish expansion lies in what sits behind the timetable – a deliberate effort to root the business in Scottish suppliers, communities and culture, while restoring Scottish connections that had been lost. This is about building presence in Scotland, not just running services in Scotland.
“Rail doesn’t exist in isolation,” says Stuart Jones, Managing Director of First Rail Open Access, which operates Lumo. “When we talk about expanding services in Scotland, we’re not just talking about paths on a network. We’re talking about how people travel, how businesses connect, and how rail can support local economies and culture in a way that feels important.”
That thinking underpins Lumo’s growing presence in Scotland.
The operator already has a strong footprint on the East Coast Main Line, linking Edinburgh Waverley with Morpeth, Newcastle, Stevenage and London King’s Cross. Extending services through Edinburgh to Glasgow strengthens a corridor that connects central Scotland to the North East of England and the capital in a way that is affordable and sustainable.
Connectivity matters because it moves possibilities as well as passengers. It supports business travel that might otherwise default to driving or flying. It simplifies weekend breaks and short stays, boosting the visitor economy. It gives students and families a budget-friendly option that doesn’t feel like a compromise. And it supports Scotland’s wider ambition to decarbonise transport while remaining open for business.
“For us, this is about making rail the obvious choice,” says Jones. “If we can combine low fares, electric traction and a service people genuinely enjoy using, then rail stops being the alternative and starts being the default.”
Lumo’s proposition is deliberately simple. Low fares, electric services and a customer-first experience that feels closer to a modern airline brand than a traditional rail operator. The company points to industry-leading satisfaction scores as evidence that accessibility and quality don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
More than a route – a relationship with Scotland
Lumo has been explicit about how it wants to show up in Scotland. This isn’t just about slapping a Saltire on the side of a train. It’s about building Scottish identity into the service itself in ways passengers can see and Scottish businesses can share in.
One of the most visible expressions of that approach is the company’s collaboration with Houston Kiltmakers, the respected Paisley-based firm, to create an official Lumo tartan.
“That partnership matters because it’s real,” says Jones. “It’s a Scottish business, with heritage and craft behind it, and we wanted something that genuinely reflected where these services are rooted.”
Last month’s launch celebrations reflected the same ethos. Onboard the inaugural southbound service, passengers were treated to comedy from emerging talent connected to the Glasgow International Comedy Festival. Lumo is now set to sponsor the festival’s “Open Access” strand in 2026, backing new voices and new acts.
A network built with partners, not just passengers
That mindset becomes even clearer in how Lumo uses its reach to champion partners across hospitality, tourism and culture – sectors that give Scotland its distinctive edge and generate significant economic value.
Festival partnerships are a case in point. Edinburgh Cocktail Week became, in Lumo’s hands, an opportunity to link sustainable travel with sustainable supply chains, spotlighting drinks brands and producers that align with a low-waste, low-carbon narrative.
“These connections matter,” says Jones. “You can’t talk about sustainability in isolation – it has to run through how people travel, how events operate and how local producers are supported.”
Then there’s Bloody Scotland, the international crime-writing festival in Stirling. Lumo didn’t simply add its logo to the programme. Instead, it turned the journey itself into part of the experience, hosting authors who wrote a brand-new thriller live onboard.
The same thinking informs Lumo’s work in accessible tourism. In Edinburgh, the operator partnered with Dynamic Earth and the charity Family Fund to give a deserving family a fully supported, accessible day out.
Investment that lands in Scotland
There’s also an unashamedly, hard-headed business dimension to Lumo’s Scottish expansion.
Ahead of the Glasgow launch, Lumo completed a fleet-wide refresh of 1,930 seats across its Hitachi-built trains. Some of the refurbishment work was carried out in Scotland, using Scottish suppliers and partners – a tangible upgrade to the passenger experience that also delivered work for local firms.
“Where we spend matters,” says Jones. “If we’re serious about being part of Scotland’s economy, that has to be reflected in our supply chain, not just our marketing.”
For passengers, it means improved comfort and durability. For Scotland, it reinforces the idea that transport investment can support domestic capability when operators make deliberate choices.
Jobs, skills and a modern service culture
Behind the scenes, Lumo’s footprint in Scotland is also growing through recruitment and skills development, tied to the next phase of expansion, including the planned Stirling to London Euston service from spring 2026.
What stands out is the emphasis on creating a modern talent pipeline. Apprenticeship routes into operational roles, a focus on progression, and an inclusive approach to recruitment are all part of making rail careers feel accessible to people who might never have considered the industry.
“You don’t get great service by accident,” says Jones. “You get it by investing in people, giving them opportunities and building a culture they want to be part of.”
A service that wants to belong
Lumo’s growth in Scotland arrives at a pivotal moment. With major events like the Glasgow Commonwealth Games on the horizon and continued pressure to decarbonise how people move around the country, the question isn’t whether Scotland needs better connectivity – it’s what kind.
This is where Lumo positions itself not as a silver bullet, but as a credible, modern option that restores lost links, broadens choice and does so with genuine pride of place baked in.
Or, as Jones puts it: “We don’t think of Lumo as a service that runs through Scotland. We think of it as a service that belongs here.”
