Affordable Eco-Friendly Train Service Connects Major UK Cities

A new low-cost electrical rail service has launched in the UK today, linking London and Edinburgh for less than £15.

Called Lumo, the cut-price service is taking on budget airlines and catering to passengers concerned about flygskam (flight shame) or the carbon footprint of short flights. This provides an affordable and comparatively ‘greener’ transport option between the two capitals.

Affordable Train Travel

Tickets between London and Edinburgh start from £14.90 on an electric, low-carbon train that will run on the East Coast Main Line, with stops at Newcastle, Morpeth, and Stevenage along the way. As services launch today, the goal is to increase output to 10 services per day by early next year, with a typical journey taking about four hours and 30 minutes from center to center.

Old town Edinburgh and Edinburgh castle in Scotland UK
The Lumo trains will connect London and Edinburgh ©f11photo/Shutterstock

Comfort and Sustainability

Helen Wylde, Managing Director for Lumo, stated: “Traveling in the UK should not cost a fortune, and it certainly shouldn’t be the planet that pays. Whatever your preferred mode of transport, we are likely to be more affordable and kinder to the planet.

Lumo trains feature an on-board WiFi and entertainment system, privacy wings, and a single class of “quality services for all passengers,” ensuring that travelers can enjoy a full range of services without the need for an upgraded ticket. Furthermore, all passengers are provided with “good seats” that are ergonomically designed for comfort on longer journeys, featuring optimized leg room and larger tray tables. Notably, over 50% of the on-board catering menu is plant-based, reflecting a commitment to sustainable dining practices.

Lumo, which operates under British transport company FirstGroup, has pledged to regularly publish carbon emissions data and present a carbon calculator for passengers to determine the carbon footprint of their journey.

Moreover, sleeper trains are experiencing a resurgence across European nations, with a network of planned routes connecting cities including Prague, Berlin, Amsterdam, and more in 2022, as operators revive forgotten routes to meet the growing demand for rail travel.

This article was first published on Sep 7, 2021, and updated on Oct 21, 2021.

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