First Group

A Great Western Railway IET enters Hereford station on March 5 2022, prior to working a service to Paddington via Worcester and Oxford. Lumo trains would head south from Hereford and reach London via Abergavenny and Bristol Parkway. JACK BOSKETT.

News

FirstGroup explains why it chose Hereford for next Lumo plan

FirstGroup plans to fit Hereford services into its Carmarthen operation once that starts in December 2027.

First Group 25 Jun

Lumo 803 001 arrives at Newcastle Central forming the 1525 Edinburgh-King’s Cross on August 6 2022. Lumo is one of three open access operators on the East Coast Main Line. ANTONY GUPPY.

News

The 15 new open access routes currently being planned after FirstGroup submits Hereford Lumo bid

More than a dozen new routes are planned by open access operators.

Open access 9 Jun

Lumo Class 803 and LNER Azuma unit side by side at London King's Cross. ALAMY.

News

Analysis: The verdict on ECML abstraction is still ‘not proven’

It’s said that there are two versions of events, and in the middle - the truth.

News Analysis 2 Jun

Off-lease 221104 passes Wellington as part of a driver training run between Central Rivers TMD and Wrexham. ALISTAIR COX.

News

Network Rail refuses to support three West Coast Main Line open access plans

Infrastructure owner highlights several issues with all three with capacity being a key area of concern.

West Coast Main Line 13 May

News

Heidi Alexander quizzed by MPs over South Western Railways blunder

MPs have quizzed Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander after national media reports of a rail nationalisation blunder that is claimed to have cost taxpayers £250 million.

Heidi Alexander 23 Apr

News

Transport Secretary's open access letter 'suggests making it harder for new applications'

Rail Partners concerned about Heidi Alexander's letter, but operators say applications meet her expectations

Open access 22 Jan

Comment

Comment: Open access operations - is the government for or against?

The government has been sending mixed messages over its support for open access. Christian Wolmar looks at where this leaves the investing operators.

Christian Wolmar 22 Jan

News

Rolling stock deadline prompted Grand Union's sale of Carmarthen open access rights to FirstGroup

Open access operator sold its rights from Paddington to South Wales after being told it couldn't use second-hand stock.

Open access 7 Jan

News

FirstGroup's half-year results reveal plans for 'operational delivery' for rail

Company presented upbeat set of half-year results to shareholders at end of 2024.

FirstGroup 6 Jan

Lumo train enters Newcastle station. PAUL BIGGS.

News

FirstGroup targets the road market with its Lumo Paignton plan

FirstGroup has applied for permission to start six services between Paddington and Paignton via Bristol from 2028

FirstGroup 27 Dec

News

Office of Rail and Road inundated with more than 80 track applications

The ORR is shifting through more than 80 track applications after putting out a call for bids earlier this year

Office of Rail and Road 2 Dec

News

Rail Partners: Trade body that representers passenger owning groups to be wound up

Rail Partners, the trade body that represents groups that own passenger operators, is to be wound up in early 2025.

Rail Partners 15 Nov

News

First acquires Stirling-London Grand Union open access operation

FirstGroup has taken over Ian Yeowart’s Stirling-London open access operation, which holds five-year track access rights and is proposed to start in June 2025.

rail 25 Sept

Passengers at York on July 25. JACK BOSKETT.

News

FirstGroup calls for a 'Generation Rail' to boost future train travel

First Rail has unveiled ambitious plans to attract a new generation of rail users.

FirstGroup 2 Aug

First Group First Connections advocate network development programme rail sector

News

FirstGroup creates new career development network

Advocate network programme introduced to 'support careers as part of a more diverse and inclusive business'.

First Group 30 Jan

News

FirstGroup sets sights on Sheffield-London services

New proposals comprise two return journeys a day from London King’s Cross, calling at Retford, Worksop, Woodhouse and Sheffield.

First Group 5 Jan

News

Hull Trains temporarily suspends operations

“We have explored every avenue to try and keep trains running, but sadly it is not currently financially viable to run our services" - Hull Trains MD

30 Mar

News

South Western Railway contract “could end” as turnaround plan announced

Hopwood: "We are having constructive talks with the DfT as regards a new contract. Another potential outcome is that the current contract will end."

9 Jan

News

Hull Trains prepares to introduce its five brand-new Hitachi bi-modes

Open access operator prepares to put brand-new £60 million fleet into traffic

18 Nov

News

First Trenitalia to operate West Coast Partnership from December 2019

First Trenitalia replaces Virgin Trains on West Coast Main Line from December, and will be shadow operator of HS2

14 Aug

First Group

FirstGroup explains why it chose Hereford for next Lumo plan

The 15 new open access routes currently being planned after FirstGroup submits Hereford Lumo bid

Analysis: The verdict on ECML abstraction is still ‘not proven’

Network Rail refuses to support three West Coast Main Line open access plans

Heidi Alexander quizzed by MPs over South Western Railways blunder

Transport Secretary's open access letter 'suggests making it harder for new applications'

Comment: Open access operations - is the government for or against?

Rolling stock deadline prompted Grand Union's sale of Carmarthen open access rights to FirstGroup

FirstGroup's half-year results reveal plans for 'operational delivery' for rail

FirstGroup targets the road market with its Lumo Paignton plan

Office of Rail and Road inundated with more than 80 track applications

Rail Partners: Trade body that representers passenger owning groups to be wound up

First acquires Stirling-London Grand Union open access operation

FirstGroup calls for a 'Generation Rail' to boost future train travel

FirstGroup creates new career development network

FirstGroup sets sights on Sheffield-London services

Hull Trains temporarily suspends operations

South Western Railway contract “could end” as turnaround plan announced

Hull Trains prepares to introduce its five brand-new Hitachi bi-modes

First Trenitalia to operate West Coast Partnership from December 2019

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

HS2 faces £100bn cost and delay until late-2030s, government told

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

First Group

FirstGroup explains why it chose Hereford for next Lumo plan

The 15 new open access routes currently being planned after FirstGroup submits Hereford Lumo bid

Analysis: The verdict on ECML abstraction is still ‘not proven’

Network Rail refuses to support three West Coast Main Line open access plans

Heidi Alexander quizzed by MPs over South Western Railways blunder

Transport Secretary's open access letter 'suggests making it harder for new applications'

Comment: Open access operations - is the government for or against?

Rolling stock deadline prompted Grand Union's sale of Carmarthen open access rights to FirstGroup

FirstGroup's half-year results reveal plans for 'operational delivery' for rail

FirstGroup targets the road market with its Lumo Paignton plan

Office of Rail and Road inundated with more than 80 track applications

Rail Partners: Trade body that representers passenger owning groups to be wound up

First acquires Stirling-London Grand Union open access operation

FirstGroup calls for a 'Generation Rail' to boost future train travel

FirstGroup creates new career development network

FirstGroup sets sights on Sheffield-London services

Hull Trains temporarily suspends operations

South Western Railway contract “could end” as turnaround plan announced

Hull Trains prepares to introduce its five brand-new Hitachi bi-modes

First Trenitalia to operate West Coast Partnership from December 2019

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

HS2 faces £100bn cost and delay until late-2030s, government told

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

GB Railfreight planning to repurpose at least 12 more Class 66s for heavy trainloads

DB Cargo UK discussing transferring drivers to rival as it deals with Network Rail contract loss

FirstGroup confirms Class 222s for Euston-Stirling Lumo route

Chiltern Railways on verge of agreeing deal to take ex-TransPennine Express Mk 5s

Why the Class 67s have been running on borrowed time for nearly the whole of their lives

Network Rail begins process to replace rail infrastructure monitoring trains