FirstGroup orders 14 Hitachi 80x units for Lumo services on Great Western and East Coast Main Lines

FirstGroup has placed an order for 14 new five-car Hitachi 80X Hitachi units for its open access operations.

The order comes a day after the acquisition of Grand Union’s London Paddington-Carmarthen operation and a bid to run a new service to Paignton were announced.

FirstGroup has reached an agreement with Angel Trains to lease 14 five-car sets, which will either be electric, battery electric or bi-mode, over a ten-year lease period, in a deal with around £500 million. The agreement also includes maintenance of the sets which will be manufactured at Newton Aycliffe, Country Durham.

The new units will be used on the South Wales route and to increase the existing Hull Trains and Lumo services on the East Coast Main Line.

FirstGroup could also order another 13 sets for around £460m if its open access applications with the Office of Rail and Road are approved.

The operator wants to start new Lumo services between London Euston and Rochdale via Manchester Victoria, and Paddington and Paignton, as well as extending the existing London King’s Cross-Edinburgh service to Glasgow. It also wants to start a new Hull Trains service between King’s Cross and Sheffield via Retford and Worksop.

FirstGroup Chief Executive Officer Graham Sutherland said: “The introduction of our new service between London and Carmarthen, and the extra capacity on Lumo and Hull Trains, will significantly increase our open access portfolio over the next few years, with further expansion possible should our recent applications be successful.

“We know that growth and innovation are key for the future of the railway sector and are committed to working with government and all our partners to provide competitive, sustainable and improved services. Successful open access services can provide new connections, add capacity, support local businesses and suppliers, secure jobs and help to drive social mobility and future economic growth.”

Malcolm Brown, CEO of Angel Trains, added: “This is the first announcement of its kind in six years but our ambitions don’t stop here - this milestone represents the beginning of a new and exciting journey, which will see Angel Trains play a leading role in the green transition of our rail infrastructure.”  

FirstGroup has said the open access operations out of Paddington will be run under its Lumo brand.

The Carmarthen service is already scheduled to start in December 2027, while FirstGroup hopes to begin running to Paignton via Bristol from May 2028.

Earlier this year, FirstGroup also acquired the rights to Grand Union’s London Euston-Stirling operation, which is due to start in May 2025.