Lumo Unveils Refurbished Class 222 Trains Ahead of West Coast Launch

Open access rail operator Lumo has revealed the new look of its refurbished Class 222 trains, offering a first glimpse ahead of the launch of its West Coast services.

The unveiling took place as part of a private event in Preston, where Lumo officially opened its new headquarters in the city centre. Attendees were also given a preview of the first refurbished train at Alstom’s Widnes facility.

The Class 222 units, previously operated by East Midlands Railway, are undergoing refurbishment and will feature Lumo’s distinctive blue livery. Final preparations are now underway before the trains enter service as part of the operator’s expansion onto the West Coast Main Line.

Lumo has already established a strong presence on the East Coast Main Line, where it has operated services between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh for the past four and a half years, later extending to Glasgow. The operator now aims to replicate that success on the West Coast, offering affordable, direct services between London, the North West and Scotland.

The launch of Lumo’s new headquarters in Preston marks a significant investment in the region, with around 100 jobsexpected to be created. The opening was celebrated with a procession from Preston railway station to the new Fox Street site, in partnership with the Preston Caribbean Carnival.

The new headquarters reflects Lumo’s network, with meeting rooms named after stations on its routes and equipped with digital booking systems.

Tickets for the new West Coast service, set to begin in July 2026, are already on sale, with fares starting from £29.90 for journeys between London Euston and Stirling.

Sir Mark Hendrick, MP for Preston, attended the launch and welcomed the introduction of additional competition on the West Coast Main Line.

Stuart Jones, Managing Director of First Rail Open Access, said:

“This is a significant moment for both Lumo colleagues and the people of Preston as we countdown to officially launching our new West Coast service.

“We’re excited to be investing in our new base in Preston which is creating jobs and supporting the local economy. We’re looking forward to becoming a part of the community here, already forging some brilliant partnerships, with the Preston Caribbean Carnival team helping us to open our HQ here in real style.

“We can’t wait to begin this new service in the coming months, offering simple, low-cost tickets and direct services between Scotland, the North West of England and London.”

The introduction of refurbished Class 222 trains and the opening of the Preston headquarters mark key milestones as Lumo prepares to expand its operations and bring greater choice to passengers on the UK rail network.