Lumo launches London-to-Scotland tickets under £35, dubbed 'Ryanair of trains'

Lumo, nicknamed the 'Ryanair of trains' for its ultra-cheap fares, unveiled a new London-to-Scotland ticket slate that starts at less than £35. The budget, all-electric rail operator said it will run services from Glasgow to Falkirk, Edinburgh, the North East and London, with fares starting at £33.10 for London-to-Glasgow and as low as £10.90 on the Newcastle-to-Glasgow leg. The inaugural Glasgow Queen Street to London King's Cross service departed Glasgow on Dec. 16 at 6:16 p.m. and arrived in London one minute early. A launch celebration featuring music and comedy accompanied the rollout.

Stuart Jones, managing director of First Rail Open Access, called the move a landmark moment for connectivity between Scotland and England, noting it offers a sustainable travel option while also boosting economic growth. "This is a landmark moment which will boost connectivity between Scotland and England, offering a sustainable travel option whilst also boosting economic growth," he said. He added that the event highlighted strides in cross-border rail and the potential for more open-access services in the future. "It was a particular pleasure to celebrate the launch of our inaugural services in style with a brilliant range of guests from our dedicated team, as well as our partners from Scotland and across the border. We're proud to champion Scotland and look forward to providing the unique Lumo service to even more customers from this week."

Richard Salkeld, head of communications and partnerships at Lumo, said most of its customers are travelers who want to make the London-to-Glasgow trip but can’t afford steep rail prices. "Lumo is an open-access operator, which means we take full commercial risk for running the services. We don’t get government or public subsidy - we take on the risk and have to be confident that we can make it work, all while complementing the existing services that already run," Salkeld said. Tickets remain priced from £33.10 for London-to-Glasgow, with fares as low as £10.90 for the Newcastle-to-Glasgow leg.

Lumo’s expansion comes as it faces competition from established routes. Avanti West Coast runs a direct Glasgow Central to London Euston service, and a January off-peak single can cost about £130.80, with any-time single fares around £205.50 on Dec. 18, according to published schedules. Lumo’s journey time is expected to be longer than Avanti’s, which typically takes around 4 hours and 35 minutes on the direct route, reflecting the different network and service patterns of the operator.

Lumo executives framed the expansion as part of a broader push to provide affordable, sustainable travel options. The company emphasizes that its open-access model relies on market demand rather than government subsidies, a point underscored by its leadership as they extend service to Glasgow and beyond. Jones noted the launch aligns with a broader industry aim to improve cross-border rail links while keeping prices within reach for casual and occasional travelers.

The price points cited by Lumo, including £33.10 for London-to-Glasgow and £10.90 for Newcastle-to-Glasgow, position the service as one of the more affordable choices for travelers between Scotland and England. The service’s luggage policy is strict: all customers may bring on board a maximum of one small bag or holdall and one medium suitcase (dimensions up to 63 x 41 x 27 centimeters). Golf clubs and large musical instruments are not permitted onboard. Lumo has marketed these limits as part of its value proposition, arguing that lower fares come with certain practical constraints.

Industry observers note that Lumo’s business model—open access, direct risk-taking and aggressive pricing—portrays a contrast with traditional, subsidy-supported routes. If the new London-Scotland services attract a steady flow of passengers, the operator could help reshape pricing expectations on other cross-border legs and potentially prompt further openings of open-access slots on congested routes.

Overall, the launch solidifies Lumo’s position as a disruptive player in the UK rail market, with the company signaling plans to extend this new Glasgow-centered network further in the weeks ahead. In comments and through its pricing, Lumo seeks to balance affordability with the realities of running a long-distance, electric fleet on a network that has historically relied on heavier subsidies and scheduled constraints. Travelers now have a cheaper option for trips between London and Glasgow, and the service promises to give rail customers another alternative to high-priced tickets on established operators.