FirstGroup Secures Train Lease for Upcoming Stirling Open Access Initiative

According to a recent announcement from FirstGroup, the company is gearing up to introduce open access passenger services connecting London Euston and Stirling by mid-2026.

On June 2, FirstGroup revealed it has secured a lease for five Bombardier Class 222 inter-city diesel multiple units (DMUs) from Eversholt Rail. This arrangement will last until June 2030, coinciding with their track access agreement. Currently, these DMUs are in service with east Midlands Railway but will be replaced by new Hitachi Class 810 Aurora trains. Before hitting the tracks for the new route, these units will undergo modifications from their existing configurations of five and seven cars.

The rights to operate trains between london and Stirling were previously obtained by Grand Union WCML in 2024,marking a significant milestone as the first open access service on the West Coast Main Line. After being acquired by FirstGroup, these services will be branded under Lumo—similar to its current operations between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh.

The planned schedule includes four daily round trips (three on Sundays) between Stirling and London, along with a daily return journey from Preston to London throughout the week.key stops along this route include Stirling, Larbert, Greenfaulds (serving Cumbernauld), Whifflet (for Coatbridge), Motherwell, Lockerbie, Carlisle, Preston, crewe, Nuneaton, Milton Keynes—all culminating at London Euston. Notably, this service will provide direct connections to London for Whifflet and Greenfaulds residents for the first time.

After an initial setup phase is complete, FirstGroup anticipates generating around £50 million annually with a modest double-digit profit margin. The company is also exploring options to extend its track access agreement while considering orders for new electric or bi-mode trains through its existing partnership with Angel Trains and Hitachi Rail UK.

“Launching our new service linking London and Stirling marks another key milestone in expanding Lumo’s reach as we aim to enhance our open-access offerings,” stated Graham Sutherland CEO of FirstGroup. “Our commitment has consistently lead us toward providing reliable rail services that not only meet customer needs but also stimulate economic growth while connecting communities.”

The introduction of open access passenger services aligns with government initiatives aimed at rail reform; though Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander has raised concerns regarding potential revenue impacts on existing operators and also network capacity issues.

Citing its lease agreement details further emphasizes that open-access operators rely entirely on private funding while assuming all commercial risks associated with their ventures—highlighting that this new Stirling route intends to utilize available paths within the network efficiently.