A new train service linking London and Scotland has been suspended just one week after its launch, following a mechanical fault with the operator’s sole train.
Lumo, the FirstGroup-owned company, confirmed it could not run services on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) on Monday due to the issue.
The route, which commenced operations last Monday between Euston and Stirling, central Scotland, also serves stations including Milton Keynes Central, Crewe, Preston, and Carlisle.
Both planned services for Monday – one in each direction – were cancelled.
Depending on their route, passengers are being told to travel by taxi or coach, or use another train operator.
Passengers are advised to check Lumo’s website or social media channels for the latest information.
Services are expected to resume on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for Lumo said: “Since launch, the vast majority of our services have operated as planned, however, a few services have been cancelled with alternative travel offered to customers.
“We apologise for the inconvenience and are working closely with Alstom who maintain the trains to ensure minimal disruption to customer journeys.”
Lumo’s lack of rolling stock on the WCML means its timetable has initially been restricted to one daily return service.
As it receives more trains, this is expected to be gradually increased to four by late July, with an additional daily return service between Euston and Preston.
The faulty train is a refurbished Class 222 Meridian train previously used by East Midlands Railway.
When the west coast route launched, Lumo said it was “designed to offer low-cost fares and attract more people to train over air and road”.
Lumo also runs services on the East Coast Main Line, connecting London King’s Cross with Edinburgh, Glasgow and Falkirk.
It operates on an open access basis, meaning it sets its own fares, takes on all revenue risk and receives no taxpayer-funded subsidies.
This means it is not affected by the government’s renationalisation of all remaining franchised train services in Britain.
FirstGroup holds track access rights from the regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), for the route on the WCML until 2030.
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander wrote to ORR chair Declan Collier in January, expressing concerns that the open access model can cause “potential congestion” and result in taxpayers being “left to fill shortfalls” in maintenance costs.
She stated it was her “expectation” that “the impacts on the taxpayer and on overall performance” are “given primacy” when his organisation analyses track access proposals.
