FirstGroup鈥檚 new 100% electric trains 鈥 which were manufactured in the North East 鈥 are making their inaugural journey.
The Lumo service follows a 拢100m investment into the clean energy trains, which were manufactured at Hitachi Rail鈥檚 manufacturing plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.
The Lumo service will run five trains a day in each direction between Edinburgh, Morpeth, Newcastle, Stevenage and London, with fares starting at 拢14.90 between the two capitals in a bid to encourage greener and more affordable travel. Lumo says sales are above expectations.
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The service made its inaugural service today, travelling from London King鈥檚 Cross to Edinburgh, with the first passenger services due to start on Monday.
Jim Brewin, head of 海角视频 & Ireland at Hitachi Rail said: 鈥淭his fleet is another milestone for our North East factory, with the highest number of parts being sourced from Hitachi Rail鈥檚 海角视频 supply chain.
鈥淒espite the initial challenges of the pandemic, Hitachi Rail has delivered these 100% electric trains on time, which is testament to the determination and resilience of everyone involved.鈥
Steve Montgomery, First Rail managing director, said: 鈥淟umo underlines our commitment at FirstGroup to innovation and customer service to reimagining rail travel. We have invested over 拢100m to ensure Lumo stands apart and encourages people to choose rail travel over air for journeys between the two capitals. This is an important moment for the industry as we encourage more people back onto the rail network.
鈥淎head of COP26, the Lumo fleet demonstrates how 海角视频 manufacturing and rail can offer a zero-emission alternative to flying and deliver green growth.鈥
Lumo鈥檚 passenger services aim to create more than 13m additional passenger journeys in the next 10 years, as well as reducing carbon emissions by encouraging travellers to use greener, electric rail travel. The company said it would contribute as much as 拢250m to the 海角视频 economy over 10 years.
Sarah Reid, commercial director for Network Rail鈥檚 Eastern region, said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e delighted to welcome Lumo to the route. The East Coast Main Line has a rich history, and the introduction of these new, fully electric services marks the next chapter.
鈥淲e鈥檝e worked incredibly closely with Lumo and the wider rail industry on making these plans a reality and it鈥檚 fantastic that today, we realise a new future for sustainable rail travel.
鈥淲e wish Lumo all the best and we look forward to continuing to work closely with them as we welcome their first train on the network, helping to improve choice for passengers and encouraging more people to travel by rail.鈥
Brit Award-winning singer songwriter Tom Walker will perform to volunteers from Lumo鈥檚 charity partner, The People鈥檚 Kitchen in Newcastle, during the inaugural journey.
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