Train passengers may soon have another way to commute from Glasgow to London as low-cost company Lumo looks to increase its service.
Avanti's West Coast line is currently the only direct rail service that connects the two cities.
Lumo, which runs between Edinburgh and London, aims to provide passengers with an alternative mode of transportation.
In order for the company to provide a longer journey from and to Glasgow Queen Street, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has approved the extension of the current service. It coincided with the approval of a number of additional lines within Scotland and England, such as new Lumo routes to Stirling, Newcastle and Hull.
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.
“Importantly, we have ensured the approval of these services can be accommodated alongside the major service uplifts by other operators, which have been planned into the December 2025 timetable, so together passengers and freight customers can benefit from more direct connections and greater choice from December.”
According to Lumo, on weekdays it will offer two northbound and one southbound service between Glasgow and London King's Cross, while on Sundays it will offer one service in each direction.
The new Glasgow service's costs and schedule have not yet been finalised.
Lumo, which launched in October 2021, aims to provide a more sustainable and affordable alternative to other transport methods, especially planes.
When booked well in advance, fares from London to Edinburgh start from £19.90, while London to Newcastle start at £17.90.
Which?, a consumer advocacy group, claims that Lumo's services are comparable to those of low-cost carriers, with less expensive tickets, baggage limits, no first class, and no buffet car.
Returns between Edinburgh and London on Lumo were regularly less expensive than those on competitor East Coast train company LNER, with prices as low as £91.
Advance train tickets are sometimes less expensive when they are initially offered and sell out fast on the busiest routes, so if you want to get the best deals, keep an eye out for them and purchase them as soon as you can.
