FirstGroup confirms Class 222s for Euston-Stirling Lumo route

FirstGroup has confirmed it has agreed the lease of five Class 222 DMU sets for its new London Euston-Stirling open access service.

The sets, currently in use with East Midlands Railway (EMR), will be leased from Eversholt Rail in a deal that runs until the end of the current track access agreement in 2030.

The company, which currently has an order with Hitachi for 14 new trains, will consider using electric or bi-mode units should its track access agreement be extended. Class 222s have a top speed of 125mph but will be limited to 110mph because they are non-tilting.

FirstGroup bought the rights for the route from Grand Union in September 2024 after the former had secured track access six months earlier.

No date for services has been announced, although it’s expected to be mid-2026.

Trains will run under the Lumo brand and include four return services a day (three on Sunday) and an additional return journey between Preston and London.

Between Stirling and Euston trains will call at Larbert, Greenfaulds, Whifflet, Motherwell, Lockerbie, Carlisle, Preston, Crewe, Nuneaton and Milton Keynes.

Class 222 sets are due to start coming off lease later this year when EMR’s ‘810’ Aurora bi-mode sets enter service.

EMR has 27 units made up of 23 five-car and four seven-car sets, but FirstGroup has said it will use trains that have six carriages.

Eversholt Rail told RAIL units 222001-222005 (four seven-car and one five-car set) have been earmarked for transfer to FirstGroup. They are due to be returned by EMR between September and February 2025 when they will be reconfigured. 

FirstGroup recently suggested it would be using ‘222s’ on the route when a job advert said applicants would be “qualified to drive ‘222’ trains. The operator confirmed to RAIL they have a top speed of 125mph but will be limited to 110mph because they are non-tilting.

Timetable paths have been approved by the Office of Rail and Road. FirstGroup is now working with Network Rail to finalise specific timings.