First Rail Stirling (Lumo) Rolling Stock

[170UTD]

To maintain a reliable service during the transition period, over the winter a small number of EMR trains will run with fewer carriages than usual, and we plan to suspend seat reservations on some services. This will help us manage the transition from our existing trains to the new Aurora fleet in a controlled way, as three Class 222 trains are returning to the leasing company between September and December 2025, before transferring to Lumo.

From the Class 810 for East Midlands Railway Construction/Introduction Updates thread: it looks like only three 222s are leaving instead of five, which is strange because I thought five units were required for the timetable?

 

[800001]

From the Class 810 for East Midlands Railway Construction/Introduction Updates thread: it looks like only three 222s are leaving instead of five, which is strange because I thought five units were required for the timetable?

Only 3 to start with. When they start the service next year it will be a gradual
Introduction, so presume can manage with 3 for time being (refurbishment and driver training).

 

[Some guy]

The first one should be due to be used on the west coast for driver training and route knowledge this month

 

[Tilting007]

The first one should be due to be used on the west coast for driver training and route knowledge this month

Due with Lumo 30/09

 

[pwharley]

222001 has moved to Alstom Widnes today for refurbishment, prior to use by Lumo.

 

[Ellwill]

222001 has moved to Alstom Widnes today for refurbishment, prior to use by Lumo.

Realtime Trains | 5Q36 1000 Etches Park Sdgs to Widnes Transport Tech | 01/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q36 1000 departure from Etches Park Sdgs to Widnes Transport Tech on 01/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Seen passing through Uttoxeter this morning:

Source: https://twitter.com/HavershamGreen/status/1995455597265686660

 

[QSK19]

Realtime Trains | 5Q36 1000 Etches Park Sdgs to Widnes Transport Tech | 01/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q36 1000 departure from Etches Park Sdgs to Widnes Transport Tech on 01/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Seen passing through Uttoxeter this morning:
View attachment 193155
Source: https://twitter.com/HavershamGreen/status/1995455597265686660

Seeing the Meridians finally start to go is a very weird feeling for me.

Having travelled on these over the past 20 or so years - including daily commutes to university when they were brand new - it doesn’t feel real that it’s actually happening!

 

[dan4291]

Is that now 2 that have headed off to Lumo, along with 222005?

 

[222001]

Is that now 2 that have headed off to Lumo, along with 222005?

Yes, this is the current status of the 5 heading to Lumo:

222001 - Last service 1C90 19/08/25 | Left EMR 01/12/25
222002 - Stopped - Last service 1F82 24/10/25
222003 - In Service with EMR
222004 - In Service with EMR
222005 - Last service 1F85 20/09/25 | Left EMR 02/10/25

 

[InTheEastMids]

Yes, this is the current status of the 5 heading to Lumo:

222001 - Last service 1C90 19/08/25 | Left EMR 01/12/25
222002 - Stopped - Last service 1F82 24/10/25
222003 - In Service with EMR
222004 - In Service with EMR
222005 - Last service 1F85 20/09/25 | Left EMR 02/10/25

With 3 having been stood down or departed, there are 24 Cl222 operating for EMR, and EMR seem to be using 23 of them on a daily basis.

Now, I'm no expert on passenger rail operations, but even I can see that if 003 and 004 get sent off to Lumo, it is going to be something of a challenge to run 23 diagrams with 22 units...

Is there anything clear about when 003 and 004 need to leave?

 

[liamf656]

Is there anything clear about when 003 and 004 need to leave?

003 and 004 will stick around for a bit. It still looks likely that the first 810s will enter service before they leave

 

[Potteries 323]

It looks like the fourth Class 222 for Lumo ( 222003 or 222004) is going from Etches Park to Widnes Transport Tech tomorrow afternoon.Anybody know when 222001 is due to be released from Widnes (Its been there since December 1st 2025) ? 222005 is doing driver training and 222002 (Now a 5 car set) went to Polmadie last week.

 

[Pippy1505]

It looks like the fourth Class 222 for Lumo ( 222003 or 222004) is going from Etches Park to Widnes Transport Tech tomorrow afternoon.Anybody know when 222001 is due to be released from Widnes (Its been there since December 1st 2025) ? 222005 is doing driver training and 222002 (Now a 5 car set) went to Polmadie last week.

222003 just leaving Etches Park as 5Q36

 

[Steddenm]

The Scotsman have published some photos of the interiors of Lumo's 222s for the Stirling-Euston service.




The story does state that they are "visualisations".

Lumo said its five trains, previously used by East Midlands Railway since 2004, would feature a combination of refurbished and new seats with “sleek silver and grey tones”.

The operator - part of Aberdeen-based FirstGroup - already runs a limited stop Glasgow-Edinburgh-London service via the east coast main line through Newcastle.

The article doesn't talk much about Lumo though and more about ScotRail and their impending Class 222s.

 

[Mainline421]

Interesting, they’re keeping the standard coaches more or less as they are, but refurbishing the (former) first class to be like XC's refurbished Voyagers in EMR colours.

Sensible approach, but not something I’d have expected. Even if it’s sold as a one class, will still be quite different 'experiences.' That said, Meridian Standard Class is already pretty good.

 

[Steddenm]

Interesting, they’re keeping the standard coaches more or less as they are, but refurbishing the (former) first class to be like XC's refurbished Voyagers in EMR colours.

Sensible approach, but not something I’d have expected. Even if it’s sold as a one class, will still be quite different 'experiences.' That said, Meridian Standard Class is already pretty good.

Will First Class be rewired for the seat reservation system or will the seats still be as they are currently as I'm guessing a rewire would be expensive and keeping it as 2+1 but with standard only seating would lose seats.

 

[Snow1964]

Will First Class be rewired for the seat reservation system or will the seats still be as they are currently as I'm guessing a rewire would be expensive and keeping it as 2+1 but with standard only seating would lose seats.

When Alstom announced the contract nearly 9 months ago, was about £40m for 5 trains maintenance at Central Rivers and about £10m for work on 5 trains at Widnes

In addition, the contract includes a fleet modernisation programme with Eversholt Rail – worth around £10 million (almost €12 million) – which will be carried out at our Widnes site. The refresh involves installation of new, ergonomically designed seating, a full exterior repaint to align with Lumo’s branding and upgraded passenger Wi-Fi for improved onboard connectivity. The Wi-Fi will be provided by Nomad Digital, an Alstom subsidiary dedicated to onboard connectivity and based in Newcastle upon Tyne.

So does say installation of new seats, but presumably if didn't alter reservation system, then going to have some seats permanently unreservable as couldn't display that they are in use.

Alstom secures £50 million contract to enhance and service Class 222 trains for Lumo in the UK

Refresh and maintenance work by Alstom will support FirstGroup’s new intercity service between central and southern Scotland and London Contract supports 50 roles across Alstom sites in Cheshire and Staffordshire

www.alstom.com

 

[Bletchleyite]

Looks a cheap job potentially without even replacing covers in Standard? They are only temporary I suppose though.

With more prominence to walk up fares than the ECML version of Lumo, perhaps reflecting passenger habits particularly on WMT services, I suppose more unreserved seating than Lumo East Coast wouldn't be an odd decision.

 

[Snow1964]

With more prominence to walk up fares than the ECML version of Lumo, perhaps reflecting passenger habits particularly on WMT services, I suppose more unreserved seating than Lumo East Coast wouldn't be an odd decision.

The nature of the calling pattern (especially between stations midlands to north) suggests there is more potential for walk up fares between certain stations that aren't booked for whole route end to end

 

[RealTrains07]

I wouldn’t call that a refurbishment when the covers are the same as the ones being used by EMR. Same EMR orange, which could have been changed to blue.

They could have done a bit more with these units, real shame.

 

[InTheEastMids]

I wouldn’t call that a refurbishment when the covers are the same as the ones being used by EMR.

Yes, however EMR only replaced all the covers and cushions a year or 2 ago and in most cases they are fine for another few years as interim capacity.
The lights were also upgraded to LED quite recently, although the images above make the interior look a lot lighter than they currently feel.

Is the carpet in the pictures grey because it'll be new, or grey because it's the same 2008 EMT blue carpet with extra ground-in dirt being added by Alstom

 

[Freightdog]

It would be interesting to ride on one of these units after the refurbishment, with the blown windows and dirty carpets replaced and sometimes dirty seats too anything is an improvement over the previous EMR condition.

 

[Wyrleybart]

I wouldn’t call that a refurbishment when the covers are the same as the ones being used by EMR. Same EMR orange, which could have been changed to blue.

They could have done a bit more with these units, real shame.

Is this an artist's impression or the finished item ?

 

[sprinterguy]

Is this an artist's impression or the finished item ?

Artist's impression - they're digital renders so far as I can tell.

 

[Northerngirl]

Considering that they are going to only have them for ~3 years and scotrail would probably want to do there own work when they inevitabilityget them, as long as its fairly priced id be happy to put up with the slightly scruffy appearance

 

[CR165022]

Aren't the grey seats relatively new in the 222s anyway? I seem to recall them getting them maybe 2 years or so ago.

 

[Snow1964]

Considering that they are going to only have them for ~3 years and scotrail would probably want to do there own work when they inevitabilityget them, as long as its fairly priced id be happy to put up with the slightly scruffy appearance

Where does the 3 years come from, Lumo have signed up to a 5 year maintenance agreement which suggests they are staying until at least 2031.

 

[800001]

Aren't the grey seats relatively new in the 222s anyway? I seem to recall them getting them maybe 2 years or so ago.

The covers are new yes, to replace the worn out red covers.

 

[Northerngirl]

Where does the 3 years come from, Lumo have signed up to a 5 year maintenance agreement which suggests they are staying until at least 2031.

I thought the additional 802s were due like 2029, I might be thinking of Grand Centrals

 

[hexagon789]

I thought the additional 802s were due like 2029, I might be thinking of Grand Centrals

I think they are provisionally due next year, but they aren't for the Stirling operation.