Summary
LUMO trains plans to run six daily return services between London Euston and Manchester Victoria via Warrington, Newton-le-Willows, Eccles and Rochdale. The scheme would introduce competition on the West Coast Main Line, where currently only Avanti operates intercity services to London—unlike the East Coast Main Line, where four operators compete and drive fares down to around £41 between Doncaster and London, compared to an average of £65 from Manchester Piccadilly.
Direct London connections through Manchester Victoria would eliminate the need for passengers to walk or use local transport to reach Piccadilly, and would serve Salford MediaCity via Eccles for the first time. Rochdale and Newton-le-Willows would gain their first direct London rail links in over 25 years, improving connectivity for residents and businesses in underserved areas.
If approved, LUMO services could launch by 2027 and would compete with the new Great British Railways operator replacing Avanti. Transport analysts argue the scheme would boost inward investment, encourage modal shift from cars to rail, and support regeneration across Greater Manchester's outlying towns—but only if services deliver value for money and reduce the need for connections, which studies show cut demand by half.
Read the full story at Business Manchester
This is a summary written for the Manchester Business Services register. The full article belongs to Business Manchester — read it at source.
Common questions
- What is this article about?
- Proposed LUMO trains on the West Coast Main Line would deliver direct London services to Manchester Victoria and Rochdale for the first time in 25 years, potentially cutting fares by competing with the current monopoly operator. The scheme could also benefit Eccles, Salford MediaCity and Newton-le-Willows with improved connectivity.
- When was this published?
- This article was published on 24 July 2024.
- Who published this article?
- This article was published by Business Manchester.