Rail services between London and Scotland are about to be boosted with a new train to Glasgow from all-electric operator Lumo. The low-cost firm’s proposed extension of its London King’s Cross to Edinburgh line has now been approved by the United Kingdom’s Office of Rail and Road (ORR), meaning the Scottish terminus will instead become Glasgow Queen Street.
Until now, passengers wishing to travel by train between the British capital and Glasgow have been limited to Avanti’s West Coast line, whose off-peak single fares for the journey can exceed £100 (€115) with peak-time tickets soaring to over twice as much. In contrast, Lumo’s current London to Edinburgh service can be as affordable as £49 (€56) if booked ahead – making it likely that prices for the Glasgow trip will beat Avanti, although fares for the route have not yet been confirmed.
The trip will, however, take longer than Avanti’s, which totals four hours and 51 minutes. During the working week, there will be two northbound departures and one southbound, and Sundays will see that reduced to one service each way.
An open-access operator, which does not benefit from government or public subsidies, Lumo has to assume all the risk of its ventures. Consumer champion Which? has compared the firm’s business model to budget airlines such as Ryanair and easyJet, due to its elimination of first-class accommodation, buffet cars, and its thresholds on baggage – all of which allow it to run more cheaply than competitors.
Lumo’s Glasgow ambitions were first announced in February 2024, when owner FirstGroup told the press it was in discussions with Transport Scotland and Network Rail to extend some of its services. At the time, FirstGroup’s CEO Graham Sutherland noted “the level of growth and opportunity that is possible with new open access connections, including the significant environmental benefits of passengers switching to rail.”
🎟️ Lumo tickets are now on sale until 13th February 2026*!
— Lumo (@LumoTravel) September 9, 2025
🚆 From December 14, we're adding an additional service from Newcastle to London King's Cross every weekday.
👉 Book direct on the Lumo website or app today for the best fares, plus ZERO booking fees!
*Some exclusions… pic.twitter.com/V9x4ATg1I4
Commenting on the approval of the new Glasgow service by ORR, Richard Salkeld, Lumo’s head of communications and partnerships, said the firm is “looking forward” to serving the route and expressed confidence about its success, pointing out that at the moment, the high price of other services is a significant barrier for many customers.
A new four-times-daily London Euston to Stirling route is also due in spring 2026, and, in further good news for the rail firm and passengers, authorities have also rubberstamped its proposed Hull and Newcastle services from December. Stephanie Tobyn, ORR’s director of strategy, policy and reform, said: “Approving these additional open access services will increase connectivity on the East Coast Main Line” (where Lumo’s main rival is LNER).
