FirstGroup plc, the leading private sector transport operator, has submitted the first phase of an application for a new open access rail service between Rochdale and London to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), restoring this direct link for the first time in almost a quarter of a century.
FirstGroup plans to expand its open access rail operations as part of its successful Lumo business, building on Lumo’s existing service which has transformed long-distance connectivity between London and Edinburgh and helped support a growth in passenger numbers for all operators on the East Coast Mainline. All of the trains on this new route will be electric and battery powered, and the service will be operated by brand new trains built in the UK.
FirstGroup’s proposal for six return journeys a day aims to restore a direct Rochdale to London link via Manchester Victoria which last ran in the year 2000. The trains will run from Rochdale to London Euston, calling at Manchester Victoria, Eccles, Newton-le-Willows and Warrington Bank Quay. The station at Eccles provides connectivity for other parts of the City of Salford, including the fast-growing MediaCity area, via the nearby interchange with Metrolink and services to Newton-le-Willows will deliver greater rail connectivity for St Helens.
It is estimated that this new service would provide 1.6m people in the North West with a convenient and competitively priced direct rail service to London from stations that are more local to them, helping to stimulate a shift in transport mode from coach and car travel to rail.
Furthermore, the new service is expected to have positive benefits for the communities it serves. Both of FirstGroup’s open access services Lumo and Hull Trains have delivered material economic benefits since launch[1] and FirstGroup hopes to have a similar positive effect for Rochdale and areas along the route which are seeing wider regeneration efforts.
Lumo launched in October 2021 between London, Newcastle and Edinburgh on the East Coast Mainline and discussions are currently underway to extend the existing service to and from Glasgow. The Rochdale service would be the company’s second route. Lumo’s popularity and success has grown over the last two years, thanks to its low fare model and environmental credentials, and it has carried around two and a half million passengers since launch. Lumo offers a single class of travel with value-for-money fares providing a range of flexible choices; consistent Wi-Fi; and at-seat catering. In an independent survey released last month Lumo scored more than 96% customer satisfaction.
FirstGroup Chief Executive Officer, Graham Sutherland said “We have extensive experience of running open access rail operations and we want to bring our successful Lumo service to this new route that connects Rochdale and London. We have seen the level of growth and opportunity that is possible with open access, as well as the positive effect it has on the wider market, including economic and environmental benefits. In addition, the new service will help to drive modal shift from road to rail between the North West and London. We will be working closely with stakeholders as we build our application and our case for this new service.”
FirstGroup has submitted a formal application to the ORR. A consultation period will now follow, as well as discussion with Network Rail to secure the required approvals. It is anticipated that services could begin in the 2027 calendar year.
Notes to Editors
About open access rail services
Unlike most rail services, which are provided under contract to government, open access operators retain all revenue and cost risk and opportunity. FirstGroup is the leading open access operator in the country, with more open access rail businesses than any other.
About FirstGroup
FirstGroup plc (LSE: FGP.L) is a leading private sector provider of public transport services. With £4.8 billion in revenue and around 30,000 employees, we transported more than 1.8m passengers a day in 2022/23. We create solutions that reduce complexity, making travel smoother and life easier. Our businesses are at the heart of our communities and the essential services we provide are critical to delivering wider economic, social and environmental goals. Each of our divisions is a leader in its field: First Bus is the second largest regional bus operator in the UK, serving two-thirds of the country’s 15 largest conurbations with a fleet of more than 4,500 buses, and carrying more than a million passengers a day. First Rail is the UK’s largest rail operator, with many years of experience running long-distance, commuter, regional and sleeper rail services. We operate a fleet of more than 3,500 locomotives and rail carriages through three management fee-based train operating companies (Avanti West Coast, GWR, SWR) and two open access routes (Hull Trains and Lumo). We are formally committed to operating a zero-emission First Bus fleet by 2035, and First Rail will help support the UK Government’s goal to remove all diesel-only trains from service by 2040. In February 2023 FirstGroup was named as one of the world’s cleanest 200 public companies for the fourth consecutive year by sustainable business media group Corporate Knights in partnership with US not-for-profit organisation, As You Sow.
We provide easy and convenient mobility, improving quality of life by connecting people and communities.
Visit our website at www.firstgroupplc.com and follow us @firstgroupplc on X, formerly Twitter.
About Lumo
Lumo is a rail travel experience that is kinder to the planet and better value for customers, making it a greener and more affordable choice for long distance travel in the UK.
Lumo offers a single class service which puts everyone in the ‘good seats’ with optimised leg room and extendable tray tables that can take a full-sized laptop. It also gives customers the option of keeping their luggage close by or, for an additional charge, having it delivered to their final station or destination.
Lumo will contribute over £750m to the economy over the next 10 years and will continue to generate over 1m extra seats on the network every year. It has directly created over 100 new roles in the rail industry, mostly based in the North-East, with the supply chain supporting businesses across the UK. Lumo is an ‘open access’ train operating company, meaning it does not receive state funding, and has invested £100m to manufacture and maintain five 100% electric trains, built by Hitachi.
Other services include LumoEats, an at seat catering offer which will allow customers to purchase on board from our catering trolley or pre-order food via the LumoGo app from a range of high street brands. LumoLuggage - a bespoke courier service designed to sustainably transport your oversized, heavy luggage to your final destination, and LumoGo, an all-in-one free Wi-Fi and entertainment centre that will allow customers to tweet, work, and play on the go. Find out more at www.lumo.co.uk