FirstGroup announces another new Lumo plan - this time Hereford to Paddington

FirstGroup has announced plans for another new open access route under its Lumo brand.

The rail operator has submitted an application to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to run services between Hereford and London Paddington calling at Cwmbran, Pontypool & New Inn, Abergavenny, Severn Tunnel Junction and Bristol Parkway.

FirstGroup says the new route would operate in conjunction with its Paddington-Carmarthen service that’s due to start in December 2027, and hopes Hereford trains would start at the same time.

Hereford currently has up to four trains a day to and from Paddington travelling via Worcester and Oxford, operated by GWR. Lumo would two more Monday-Saturday and one return trip on Sundays.

FirstGroup said the new weekday paths would “help mitigate the current large gaps in the timetable with additional daytime and evening arrivals into London, giving Hereford more regular connectivity”.

FirstGroup said the Hereford route would form part of the option for an additional train order from Hitachi to supplement the 14 ordered last year for the Carmarthen and King’s Cross-Edinburgh routes.

An order for another 13 would be dependent on other routes to such Rochdale and Paignton being approved.

This week FirstGroup announced its London Euston-Stirling open access route would start next year under the Lumo brand using Class 222 DMUs.

There are also applications to extend the King's Cross-Edinburgh Lumo service to Glasgow Queen Street and for new services between London Euston and Rochdale and London Paddington and Paignton via Bristol.

Meanwhile its Hull Trains brand has applied to start a new service between King's Cross and Sheffield via Retford and Worksop.