FirstGroup

News

DfT accused of "strong-arm tactics" in battle over future of open access

FirstGroup rejects Department for Transport claims about impact of open access.

Open access 9 Jul

803002 working Lumo's 1S93 1045 Kings Cross to Edinburgh through Little Ponton in Lincolnshire on August 5 2022. PAUL CLARK

News

WCML open access decisions explained - DfT letter "not relevant"

Office of Rail and Road decision letter explains the factors that were and weren't relevant in its decision.

Office of Rail and Road 3 Jul

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

News

All three West Coast Main Line open access bid rejected

Bids by FirstGroup, Virgin and Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway have all been turned down.

Open access 3 Jul

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.

FirstGroup 25 Jun

News

Frustrated open access operators criticise Network Rail over track access responses

Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway and Hull Trains have both written letters outlining their frustrations as part of the track access application process.

Open access 11 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

News

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

Open access operator hopes to start services in December 2027.

FirstGroup 6 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

An East Midlands Railway Class 222 approaches Braybrooke on the Midland Main Line. PAUL BIGGS.

News

FirstGroup confirms Class 222s for Euston-Stirling Lumo route

Sets will have six carriages and are due to enter service on the West Coast Main Line in 2026.

Lumo 2 Jun

News

FirstGroup disputes £1bn open access abstraction claim on ECML

Report commissioned by public sector said open access could abstract more than £1bn in revenue over next decade.

FirstGroup 28 May

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

Private operator… and state-owned franchisee. Lumo 803002 (left) with the 1023 London King’s Cross to Edinburgh stands at Newcastle on February 26 2023, alongside LNER 801211 on the competing 1003 King’s Cross-Edinburgh. Despite Labour’s nationalisation plans, the government has been supportive of open access. PAUL BIGGS.

News

Open access to cost LNER £1.1bn over next decade in abstracted revenue, report claims

New report suggests an average of £100 of revenue a year will be abstracted from state-run operator up until 2035.

East Coast Main Line 12 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

Network Rail "can't support" Lumo Paignton plans as it outlines capacity concerns

Network Rail says no paths exist for a number of services planned on Great Western Main Line.

Lumo 3 Apr

Grand Central's 180104 speeds through South Otterington (near Northallerton) on September 12 2024 with the 0853 Sunderland to London King’s Cross. ALEX AYRE.

News

Open access operators hit back at DfT's opposition to track access bids

Operators 'unsurprised' after Department for Transport opposes eight out of nine open access applications.

Open access 20 Feb

News

DfT opposes eight out of nine open access applications citing revenue and performance concerns

Department for Transport said several did not meet the abstraction threshold, and raised several other concerns.

Open access 10 Feb

News

FirstGroup urges speedier response to access bids as it promotes open access operations

New report called on government to support applications saying open access is 'vital'.

FirstGroup 6 Feb

News

More details of FirstGroup's Lumo plan for Paignton emerge

Operator wants to start running between London Paddington and Paignton, via Bristol, from 2028

FirstGroup 23 Jan

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

FirstGroup

DfT accused of "strong-arm tactics" in battle over future of open access

WCML open access decisions explained - DfT letter "not relevant"

All three West Coast Main Line open access bid rejected

FirstGroup explains why it chose Hereford for next Lumo plan

Frustrated open access operators criticise Network Rail over track access responses

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

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

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

FirstGroup confirms Class 222s for Euston-Stirling Lumo route

FirstGroup disputes £1bn open access abstraction claim on ECML

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

Open access to cost LNER £1.1bn over next decade in abstracted revenue, report claims

Heidi Alexander quizzed by MPs over South Western Railways blunder

Network Rail "can't support" Lumo Paignton plans as it outlines capacity concerns

Open access operators hit back at DfT's opposition to track access bids

DfT opposes eight out of nine open access applications citing revenue and performance concerns

FirstGroup urges speedier response to access bids as it promotes open access operations

More details of FirstGroup's Lumo plan for Paignton emerge

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

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

Most read

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

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

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

FirstGroup

DfT accused of "strong-arm tactics" in battle over future of open access

WCML open access decisions explained - DfT letter "not relevant"

All three West Coast Main Line open access bid rejected

FirstGroup explains why it chose Hereford for next Lumo plan

Frustrated open access operators criticise Network Rail over track access responses

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

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

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

FirstGroup confirms Class 222s for Euston-Stirling Lumo route

FirstGroup disputes £1bn open access abstraction claim on ECML

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

Open access to cost LNER £1.1bn over next decade in abstracted revenue, report claims

Heidi Alexander quizzed by MPs over South Western Railways blunder

Network Rail "can't support" Lumo Paignton plans as it outlines capacity concerns

Open access operators hit back at DfT's opposition to track access bids

DfT opposes eight out of nine open access applications citing revenue and performance concerns

FirstGroup urges speedier response to access bids as it promotes open access operations

More details of FirstGroup's Lumo plan for Paignton emerge

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

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

Most read

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

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

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

UK "fails to provide trains people want or like"

16 DB Cargo UK drivers switching to rival

Further MML electrification and York capacity projects paused

DB Cargo sells three more Class 90s for reuse

FirstGroup confirms Class 222s for Euston-Stirling Lumo route

All three West Coast Main Line open access bid rejected