Lumo, the First Group open-access operator, has signed a £50 million contract with Alstom for the refresh and maintenance of five, six-car Class 222 Meridian trains that will be used to operate open access passenger services that are being launched between Stirling and London.
The contract comprises two key components. The first is a Train Services Agreement (TSA) with FirstGroup – valued at approximately £40 million – to be delivered at Alstom’s Central Rivers facility. From here, Alstom will maintain, overhaul, service and clean the five trains over the next five years.
Alstom’s Central Rivers depot in Burton upon Trent is a purpose-built train maintenance facility, which includes a state-of-the-art double-head lathe, nine maintenance roads and two lifting roads. The Staffordshire site also offers heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) repair and gassing capabilities, an engine repair bay, an automated vehicle inspection system (AVIS) fuelling and controlled emission toilet (CET) facilities, and an automatic intelligent train wash. Central Rivers can stable up to 37 trains, with overnight servicing of up to 26 trains.
In addition, the contract includes a fleet modernisation programme with Eversholt Rail – worth around £10 million – which will be carried out at Alstom’s Widnes site. The refresh involves installation of new, ergonomically designed seating, upgraded passenger Wi-Fi for improved onboard connectivity and a full exterior repaint to align with the Lumo branding.
The modernisation will also include new CCTV systems and Intelligent Engine Start-Stop (IESS) technology, which automatically shuts down and restarts the train’s engine when stationary – improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions.
Alstom’s Transport Technology Centre in Widnes is the UK’s largest and most sophisticated centre for train modernisation. Opened in 2017, its impressive size and its use of digital technologies makes the Cheshire facility ideal for work on intercity trains.
The contract with FirstGroup and Eversholt will support 50 roles across the two sites, alongside many more through Alstom’s UK supply chain.
Peter Broadley, commercial director UK and Ireland at Alstom, said: “This partnership marks a significant milestone in our commitment to delivering high-performance, customer-focused rail services across the UK.
“By combining Alstom’s deep technical expertise with the operational excellence of FirstGroup and Eversholt Rail, we’re ensuring that fare-paying passengers benefit from a modern, reliable and comfortable travel experience between Stirling and London.
“The investment in both refurbishment and long-term support reflects our shared ambition to drive innovation and sustainability in rail transport.”
Built by Alstom, formerly Bombardier Transportation, and previously operated by East Midlands Railway, the five Meridian units are scheduled to re-enter service with Lumo next year, serving passengers between central and southern Scotland and London Euston.
Graham Sutherland, chief executive officer at FirstGroup, commented: “We are pleased to work with Eversholt Rail and Alstom on the rolling stock element of our new service between London and Stirling.
“This new route is another important step towards rolling out Lumo as a nationwide operator and growing our open access capacity, a key priority for FirstGroup.
“Our investment and capabilities in open access rail have delivered reliable, value for money services, grown rail demand and helped to spur economic growth and connect communities. We look forward to doing the same on our new services.”
Services between Stirling and London Euston will call at Larbert, Greenfaulds (serving Cumbernauld), Whifflet (serving Coatbridge), Motherwell, Lockerbie, Carlisle, Preston, Crewe, Nuneaton and Milton Keynes. Of these, Whifflet, Greenfaulds and Larbert will have their first direct services to London.
Open access rail operators are set up with solely private investment and take full commercial risk and opportunity. The benefits of the successful open access model, recognised by government and the independent regulator – the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) – include connecting under-served places, helping to drive economic growth and providing additional capacity on core routes which can push a modal shift away from carbon-intensive travel.
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