The trial of a 10-coach fully electric service helps save 96% of emission compared to taking a flight
Rail firm Lumo announces record breaking service (Image: North News & Pictures Ltd)
Budget rail firm Lumo has operated a record breaking service and carried a whopping 772 customers between London, Newcastle and Edinburgh. It is the most passengers an intercity train has ever transported, with most vehicles having capacity for between 300 and 600 people. The sold-out return service carried more than 1,540 travellers in both directions during the one-off journey on Saturday, July 4. To put this into context, a typical narrow body aircraft flying from London to Edinburgh has capacity for between 150 and 190 passengers.Lumo says that travel on one of its fully electric services helps save 96% of CO₂e compared to taking a flight. The ten-carriage service set off from London King’s Cross at 8.26am and arrived at Edinburgh Waverley at 2.15pm.
The special journey follows a successful period for Lumo, which recently launched new services on the West Coast Main Line between London Euston and Stirling. The new offering has already created around 100 new jobs and brought an impressive level of affordability and enhanced connections to communities in Scotland and England.Stuart Jones, Managing Director of First Rail Open Access, said: “As an open access operator, we’re always looking for new ways we can provide affordable and reliable services to even more customers. “Our team have worked hard to make this record-breaking return service happen and I think it’s a clear example of how we can benefit the wider rail network.“Lumo and its sister operator Hull Trains are going from strength to strength in 2026, with industry leading customer satisfaction and a number of other exciting developments helping enhance the customer experience. As we head into the summer, we look forward to welcoming even more customers with us in the coming weeks.”The Lumo service with the potential to carry 772 customers in each direction between Edinburgh and London saves around 189 tonnes of CO₂e compared with the same journeys being made by domestic air, based on UK Government greenhouse gas conversion factors.John McCabe, Chief Executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce, added: “This is a really positive trial and an encouraging step for connectivity on the East Coast Main Line.
“Improved capacity between Newcastle, Edinburgh and London is good news for our visitor economy, cultural attractions and local businesses. It also helps people with roots in the North East and beyond stay better connected with the South of England.“We hope the trial proves successful and paves the way for increased capacity to become a more permanent fixture on this important route.”The trial service this weekend follows the latest rail passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road, the industry watchdog. The ORR reported a four per cent increase in passenger numbers on UK railways for the three months between January and March, compared with the same period in 2025 – with Lumo leading the way for helping attract more people to rail. The ORR said: “Lumo (East Coast) had the largest percentage increase in passenger journeys. The 0.4m journeys in the latest quarter was a 23 per cent increase on the 0.3m recorded in the same quarter in the previous year.”Colin Howden, Director of sustainable transport alliance Transform Scotland, said: “This trial is a welcome demonstration of how we can make better use of existing rail infrastructure to carry more passengers. Increasing capacity on key routes such as the East Coast Main Line is essential if we are to encourage more people to choose rail instead of flying or driving.“Better rail connectivity also benefits the communities the line serves, supporting local economies, tourism and cultural attractions while making sustainable travel a more attractive option.“We hope this trial proves successful and leads to further work to increase capacity on the East Coast Main Line on a permanent basis, helping more people enjoy the benefits of greener, high-quality rail travel.”Emma Reid, Commercial Director at Edinburgh Chamber, said: “Strong connections between cities are vital for a thriving economy, making it easier for people to do business, discover new places and enjoy the wealth of cultural, leisure and visitor attractions our regions have to offer. “The exceptional demand for Lumo’s trial 10-coach service highlights the importance of providing greater choice and capacity for travellers, helping to connect some of the UK’s most dynamic economic and cultural centres and supporting tourism, hospitality and local businesses along the route.”
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