East Coast Trains Ltd Launch and branding

[JaJaWa]

I guess this is the TOC brand rather than the class name. Presumably inspired by Ouigo etc.

 

[centro-323]

Starting in October, I would have thought they would have a proactive marketing campaign.

Given the leaked name and logo, one would imagine a website and other marketing material isn't too far off now

 

[dorsetdesiro]

Perhaps "Lumio" may resonate better than "Lumo" if that is the marketing angle they're trying to go for - lightning fast, high speed, speedy, super quick, travels fast as light etc...

"Lumo" to me looks more like a brand for a muscle pain relief gel!

 

[Butts]

Is there not going to be any 1st Class on this new service ?

 

[centro-323]

Nah, Lumio sounds like a dodgy dish soap. Lumo keeps it to two syllables, catchier and easier for folk to remember

 

[johnnychips]

‘Lumo’ sounds like an action hero from a Nintendo game. However, it does make a great deal of sense, as ‘East Coast Trains/Rail’ could easily be confused with other railway companies.

 

[JamesT]

Is there not going to be any 1st Class on this new service ?

All the previous statements have been that they will be standard class only. The existing operators provide first class for those that want it.

 

[Siemens Trains]

‘Lumo’ sounds like an action hero from a Nintendo game. However, it does make a great deal of sense, as ‘East Coast Trains/Rail’ could easily be confused with other railway companies.

Maybe it's short for Lundon via Morpeth if people insist on looking for something logical.
Personally I've never liked East Coast for a line that has little coastal track on the heavier used sections. West Coast seems to make even less sense.
Hopefully Lumo will catch on with the target market, which is what it's all about after all.

 

[Ianno87]

I look forward to the launch so they can make me understand why 'Lumo' is a really clever and will soon become so famous that people will say they're going to travel by Lumo instead of by train.

"Virgin" once seemed like a weird name for a train operator...

This is kind of irrelevant though isn't it, LNER will still sell tickets for these services?

Yes, someone looking for tickets on the LNER website will be shown Lumo services in the results so that hardly matters.

Hopefully Lumo will catch on with the target market, which is what it's all about after all.

Two syllables, 4 letters. Seems easy to remember.

 

[AlterEgo]

“Runs as required” paths are in RTT from the 4th of October but it’s still unclear when they’ll be starting service.

 

[800001]

“Runs as required” paths are in RTT from the 4th of October but it’s still unclear when they’ll be starting service.

Lner staff were told the following in an email from David Horne

First East Coast Trains scheduled to launch there brand and tickets sales on Sept 5th. Set to enter service 24th October

 

[dk1]

Will give them a try with my BR boxes at some point if as expected they do accept them & the departure times are right. Good to know walk on should be allowed too as Im no fan of compulsory reservation although I do accept that’s required for Night Riviera/Caledonian sleepers.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Lner staff were told the following in an email from David Horne
First East Coast Trains scheduled to launch there brand and tickets sales on Sept 5th. Set to enter service 24th October

You can book on ECTL services from Monday 25 October on trainline and LNER web sites (but not, eg, via Avanti) - eg 1045 Kings Cross-Edinburgh.
Anytime Day Single is the only fare offered (flexible, but ETCL services only).
Railcard discounts work.
It isn't clear if interavailable tickets are valid on these services, or what the reservation options are.

 

[Watershed]

You can book on ECTL services from Monday 25 October on trainline and LNER web sites (but not, eg, via Avanti) - eg 1045 Kings Cross-Edinburgh.
Anytime Day Single is the only fare offered (flexible, but ETCL services only).
Railcard discounts work.
It isn't clear if interavailable tickets are valid on these services, or what the reservation options are.

Trainline based sites are suggesting that you can't select an interavailable ticket on an ECTL/Lumo service:



Wonder what's behind that, seeing as Lumo services are definitely showing as valid on other interavailable tickets:

 

[dk1]

Actually, I would use their service at least once in the down direction just to get the York avoiding lines in

 

[jon0844]

"Virgin" once seemed like a weird name for a train operator...

Indeed, but I am sure it took a while to become the household name it is today. Virgin was well known by the time the brand was used for rail.

As I said, they must have a clever marketing campaign to make the name something you'll use as a noun (but there are potential trademarks issues to contend with as TomTom and Hoover discovered) and stick in people's minds.

Plenty of successful launches have taken place for seemingly weird names, like Orange in 1994.

I am sure they will have something but I just can't quite picture it yet!

 

[Roast Veg]

Yes, someone looking for tickets on the LNER website will be shown Lumo services in the results so that hardly matters.

Will there be many instances where slow Lumo services won't be shown in a journey planner because they are overtaken? I'm not fully abreast on the routing algorithms used by the popular planners.

 

[dk1]

"Virgin" once seemed like a weird name for a train operator...

I don’t ever recall it seeming strange. We where well used to Virgin Atlantic by then so it was more inspiring.

 

[Nunners]

Will there be many instances where slow Lumo services won't be shown in a journey planner because they are overtaken? I'm not fully abreast on the routing algorithms used by the popular planners.

I don't think any of them are overtaken, they're meant to be faster than LNER

 

[cactustwirly]

Will there be many instances where slow Lumo services won't be shown in a journey planner because they are overtaken? I'm not fully abreast on the routing algorithms used by the popular planners.

I didn't think they got overtaken? They are only 10 minutes slower than LNER services

 

[jon0844]

Will there be many instances where slow Lumo services won't be shown in a journey planner because they are overtaken? I'm not fully abreast on the routing algorithms used by the popular planners.

They'll be the Slumo services.

 

[dk1]

I don't think any of them are overtaken, they're meant to be faster than LNER

Only faster than the current slower hourly LNER Anglo-Scottish services. Don’t forget the new ECML timetable is delayed inevitably now so who knows when better timings will happen.

 

[Ianno87]

Only faster than the current slower hourly LNER Anglo-Scottish services. Don’t forget the new ECML timetable is delayed inevitably now so who knows when better timings will happen.

They might find incremental improvements here and there until such time the timetable.is recast.

Besides most planners do show overtaken direct trains (not that Lumo are overtaken)

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Is there not going to be any 1st Class on this new service ?

No Scotch on these Scottish trains, sorry

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

https://www.trademarkelite.com/uk/trademark/trademark-detail/UK00003319281/LUMO name is trademarked by East Coast Trains Limited

 

[dk1]

They might find incremental improvements here and there until such time the timetable.is recast.

Besides most planners do show overtaken direct trains (not that Lumo are overtaken)

From what I can see they follow LNER services the entire way. Suppose the now agreed TPX ‘local’ service won’t help north of Newcastle. The xx:00 down & xx:30 up Edinburgh services remain the fastest.

 

[godfreycomplex]

Nah, Lumio sounds like a dodgy dish soap. Lumo keeps it to two syllables, catchier and easier for folk to remember

“Salve Lumio”
“All right Landlord”

 

[hexagon789]

I don't think any of them are overtaken, they're meant to be faster than LNER

I thought they were all slower, with some approaching 5 hours journey time and most taking just over 4 hrs 30.

 

[centro-323]

I believe journey times are broadly similar due to pathing constraints, just with less stops. Some late evening ones I think are slightly longer due to taking the Hertford Loop, but LNER have similar issues at night e.g. 1936 from Edinburgh not reaching London until well past 1am.

 

[Ianno87]

I thought they were all slower, with some approaching 5 hours journey time and most taking just over 4 hrs 30.

I think the last couple of Up trains are closer to 5 hours due to things like (presumably) allowing for late evening diversion via Hertford.