Lumo plans to carry additional 275,000 passengers between London and Newcastle

[H&I]

Lumo press release

LUMO PLANS TO CARRY ADDITIONAL 275,000 PASSENGERS BETWEEN LONDON AND NEWCASTLE​

Extra service could also lead to new jobs for Newcastle-based train operator

Published 19 Jan 2024​

Here at Lumo we're exploring plans to operate an additional return journey every day between Newcastle and London.
The proposals are for a new early morning service from Newcastle to London, with an additional evening return. This will enable us to carry up to an additional 277,000 passengers between the cities each year and could represent a 15% increase in its capacity.
We've submitted proposals to operate the additional journeys as part of the East Coast Main Line timetable review exercise, which is taking place with all train operators on the route. Lumo currently operates five return services a day between London and Edinburgh, all of which stop at Newcastle.
Lumo has already created over 100 new jobs in the North East, many linked to apprenticeships, and is anticipating recruiting for new roles to meet the additional requirements. If approved, the additional services will be operated using the existing Lumo fleet of all-electric trains.

I’m guessing it might be too late to include it in the summer timetable change? Also, not sure why this additional journey doesn’t go all the way to Edinburgh.

 

[mad_rich]

This seems like good news. Possibly departure from EDB would be too early to be attractive?

I think the press release talks about December.

Is there any reason (other than getting hold of them) they can’t start doubling up the sets on some of these services?

 

[A S Leib]

This seems like good news. Possibly departure from EDB would be too early to be attractive?

I don't know how busy the 04:23 Newcastle to Liverpool is north of York, but I'd bet against it being packed. On the other hand, Edinburgh – London's a busier route, there might be some demand for an arrival at King's Cross by 09:00 (business travel, late morning Eurostar departures...), and prices are almost identical so not a massive deterrent relative to the other service (I think it's ~£160 for a Lumo anytime return against £150 for a NCL – LIV anytime short return, but I don't know if leaving at 04:23 is early enough for the off-peak return to be valid for the latter instead).

 

[dk1]

Lumo press release


I’m guessing it might be too late to include it in the summer timetable change? Also, not sure why this additional journey doesn’t go all the way to Edinburgh.

Does it not rely on the much delayed ECML timetable change? The earliest that can now happen is December but needs to be signed off by Mark Harper in the next few days if not we are looking at May 2025. A decision is imminent.

 

[H&I]

This seems like good news. Possibly departure from EDB would be too early to be attractive?

I think the press release talks about December.

Is there any reason (other than getting hold of them) they can’t start doubling up the sets on some of these services?

There might not be enough availability of units to be double up, whereas adding more early morning and evening departures as they have proposed here is more feasible at the moment. Extending train lengths to increase capacity and make more efficient use of the current paths is something I hope happens sooner rather than later, but that would require more funding for additional vehicles to be built.

 

[Clarence Yard]

Does it not rely on the much delayed ECML timetable change? The earliest that can now happen is December but needs to be signed off by Mark Harper in the next few days if not we are looking at May 2025. A decision is imminent.

Yes it does but the DfT and NR Eastern are really pushing for it to go ahead, despite the state of the ECML Dec 2024 timetable validation being somewhat less robust than you would expect at this stage.

Personally speaking, it could well end up with a repeat of either one of the 2018 T/T debacles if the DfT force it through. It is actually awaiting Treasury sign off at the moment before Mark Harper can say yes.

 

[dk1]

Yes it does but the DfT and NR Eastern are really pushing for it to go ahead, despite the state of the ECML Dec 2024 timetable validation being somewhat less robust than you would expect at this stage.

Personally speaking, it could well end up with a repeat of either one of the 2018 T/T debacles if the DfT force it through. It is actually awaiting Treasury sign off at the moment before Mark Harper can say yes.

Thanks for that. Fingers crossed it gets sorted then we can finally sort out GA services around Cambridge too.

 

[800001]

I don't know how busy the 04:23 Newcastle to Liverpool is north of York, but I'd bet against it being packed. On the other hand, Edinburgh – London's a busier route, there might be some demand for an arrival at King's Cross by 09:00 (business travel, late morning Eurostar departures...), and prices are almost identical so not a massive deterrent relative to the other service (I think it's ~£160 for a Lumo anytime return against £150 for a NCL – LIV anytime short return, but I don't know if leaving at 04:23 is early enough for the off-peak return to be valid for the latter instead).

Often see 20+ on the TPE 0423 between Newcastle and York where it then gets busier.
Cheap fares get people out of bed earlier.
Although the post is about Newcastle to London.

 

[A S Leib]

Although the post is about Newcastle to London.

I know, and as I said I suspect there's be more early-morning demand for London than Liverpool.

 

[185143]

Lumo press release


I’m guessing it might be too late to include it in the summer timetable change? Also, not sure why this additional journey doesn’t go all the way to Edinburgh.

At a guess, to avoid an extra lodging turn as the crews are all Newcastle based?

 

[weeklycommuter]

Does it not rely on the much delayed ECML timetable change? The earliest that can now happen is December but needs to be signed off by Mark Harper in the next few days if not we are looking at May 2025. A decision is imminent.

Yes it does but the DfT and NR Eastern are really pushing for it to go ahead, despite the state of the ECML Dec 2024 timetable validation being somewhat less robust than you would expect at this stage.
Personally speaking, it could well end up with a repeat of either one of the 2018 T/T debacles if the DfT force it through. It is actually awaiting Treasury sign off at the moment before Mark Harper can say yes.

Does anyone know if the ECML timetable change has now been signed off for December 2024? Or has it been delayed to May 2025?