Lancashire base for rail service to open next week

A new open access West Coast Main Line rail service on the popular route between Scotland and London will open its Preston base next week.

Lumo has unveiled tickets for travel from 10 July, through until the end of summer, now on sale.

Customers can now book London to Stirling priced from £29.90, London - Preston from £23.90 and Preston - Stirling from £14.90.

The new headquarters in Preston, opening on March 20, will bring around 100 new jobs because of the much-anticipated new service.

Stuart Jones, managing director of First Rail Open Access, said: "These fares are about putting customers first.

"By offering simple, low-cost tickets and direct services between Scotland, the North West of England and London, we’re making it easier and more affordable for people to travel for work, leisure and family visits.

“Launching Lumo on the West Coast Main Line is an exciting step forward, and with our new base in Preston creating jobs and supporting the local economy, this is a service that will benefit both passengers and communities along the route."

The new route will run between London Euston and Stirling, calling at Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet, Greenfaulds and Larbert.

Lumo plans to operate four daily return services between Stirling and London, plus an additional Preston–London return service.

The new service will use refurbished Class 222 trains, with refreshed interiors and entirely new seating in some carriages. Lumo will operate a single-class standard service designed to offer low-cost fares.

Lumo said the expansion is intended to improve travel choice for customers while providing direct long-distance connections for communities currently underserved by rail.

Services departing after 10 July are now on sale, however earlier services are expected to be added in the coming weeks as it’s anticipated services will launch ahead of July.