FirstGroup announces Cardiff – York open access plan and tries again to serve Rochdale
UK: FirstGroup has made initial submissions of three separate applications to the Office of Rail & Road for new and extended open access passenger train services which would be operated under its Lumo brand.
Regulator rejects West Coast Main Line open access train service plans
UK: Would-be operators have responded with disappointment to the rail regulator’s decision that there is insufficient capacity to launch three open access passenger train services on the West Coast Main Line.
First Rail operators to use SilverRail ticketing platform
UK: Ticket technology supplier SilverRail is to provide its e-commerce platform to three of First Rail’s passenger train operators.
FirstGroup applies to run Hereford – London open access service
UK: FirstGroup has submitted the first phase of an application to launch an open access passenger service between Hereford, Bristol Parkway and London under its Lumo brand.
Alstom to refresh and maintain Lumo Class 222 fleet
UK: Alstom is to refresh and maintain the five Class 222 inter-city diesel multiple-units which FirstGroup is to lease from Eversholt Rail for use Lumo open access services between Stirling and London.
Train lease agreed as FirstGroup prepares to launch Stirling open access service
UK: FirstGroup has secured the rolling stock it needs to launch Lumo-branded open access passenger services between London Euston and Stirling in mid-2026.
FirstGroup makes its case for open access alongside Great British Railways
UK: FirstGroup has set out its case for retaining a ‘thriving’ open access sector as part of the restructured railway, arguing that privately-funded services without government contracts can drive growth across all operators including those to be controlled by Great British Railways.
‘We grow, they grow’: FirstGroup sets out open access rail aims
FirstGroup orders more Hitachi trains to underpin open access growth ambitions
Interview: ‘Open access works in Europe and it works here’
FirstGroup’s Lumo seeks to launch Rochdale – London open access service
Train operator’s apprenticeship scheme goes beyond day-to-day roles