Lumo To Blackpool?

[lrbvoyager]

Moderator note - split from:

Lumo Stirling timetable

The times are all on RTT from the 15th December 2025 under the code LT. ( https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W03837/2025-12-15/detailed ) At Carlisle

www.railforums.co.uk

Since when were these authorised!?
Shows lumo pathing to Blackpool from Euston.

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Since when were these authorised!?

That’s what I was thinking I don’t see anything from the ORR about these?

 

[lrbvoyager]

That’s what I was thinking I don’t see anything from the ORR about these?

Neither. I thought they had access for Euston to Stirling and Euston to Preston unless they got extended from Preston to Blackpool.

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Neither. I thought they had access for Euston to Stirling and Euston to Preston unless they got extended from Preston to Blackpool.

I’ve seen Preston to London but even the Blackpool extension surely needs ORR approval no?

 

[lrbvoyager]

I’ve seen Preston to London but even the Blackpool extension surely needs ORR approval no?

I would have guessed so. The train from Blackpool to Euston leaves around 40 mins after the avanti one.

 

[XCTurbostar]

Unless these are Grand Central’s old paths?

 

[lrbvoyager]

Unless these are Grand Central’s old paths?

Surely they will have been offered to GC before lumo?

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Surely they will have been offered to GC before lumo?

Didn’t those rights lapse?

 

[XCTurbostar]

If LUMO need ORR approval to extend Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street then I suspect this should definitely require approval.

 

[lrbvoyager]

If LUMO need ORR approval to extend Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street then I suspect this should definitely require approval.

I haven’t read anywhere about it being extended to Blackpool. In addition why on the return trip does it stop at more stations between Blackpool and Preston?

 

[weeklycommuter]

There is nothing in any documents on the Office of Rail and Road website about Lumo services to and from Blackpool North so I have to conclude that wherever the information on Real Time Trains showing Lumo West Coast services to and from Blackpool North originated it must have been entered in error.

 

[Chiltern006]

Maybe it’s just a more convenient place than turning at Preston?

 

[Some guy]

Maybe it’s just a more convenient place than turning at Preston?

Yeah it makes sense as those services start from Preston and end so makes sense then sending it to Blackpool

 

[800001]

Yeah it makes sense as those services start from Preston and end so makes sense then sending it to Blackpool

But surely that would be in the track access agreement between Lumo and Network Rail if that was the case?

 

[Toby268]

There is nothing in any documents on the Office of Rail and Road website about Lumo services to and from Blackpool North so I have to conclude that wherever the information on Real Time Trains showing Lumo West Coast services to and from Blackpool North originated it must have been entered in error.

One of the drivers at Preston have said they have been told they will be operating to Blackpool. I’m unsure how they’ve went about getting rights for this. Maybe some sort of agreement with network rail that ORR have agreed to for performance reasons, to keep sets out of Preston as to not clog the station up.

 

[The Planner]

There is nothing in any documents on the Office of Rail and Road website about Lumo services to and from Blackpool North so I have to conclude that wherever the information on Real Time Trains showing Lumo West Coast services to and from Blackpool North originated it must have been entered in error.

You don't randomly put in validated paths like that with associated ECS paths to/from Crewe unless its requested.

 

[Clarence Yard]

It isn’t an error. Lumo requested the paths but NR has managed to get them in earlier than anticipated.

An application to the ORR will be made shortly.

 

[800001]

It isn’t an error. Lumo requested the paths but NR has managed to get them in earlier than anticipated.

An application to the ORR will be made shortly.

And if agreed, presumedly, the options for extra units with Hitachi as part of their recent order would be used.

 

[ainsworth74]

And if agreed, presumedly, the options for extra units with Hitachi as part of their recent order would be used.

Would they be needed to run two extensions to existing planned services?

 

[lrbvoyager]

Would they be needed to run two extensions to existing planned services?

I would guess it’s just an extension to their Preston service as the whole reason other open access operations were denied was the lack of capacity on WCML South.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I would guess it’s just an extension to their Preston service as the whole reason other open access operations were denied was the lack of capacity on WCML South.

It wouldn't surprise me if Network Rail and Avanti were very happy about that if it is indeed the Preston terminator extended. Blackpool North has more platform capacity for reversals than is needed, and Preston doesn't, particularly in disruption (there is 5/6 but services do presently reverse in them and if a train is terminated short it has to go there too). That's the same main reason why the Avanti Glasgow services that were cut short over COVID and the following years (mostly if not all now reinstated) weren't just terminated at Preston but rather continued to Blackpool North. Think of it as a long reversing siding with a station at the end.

 

[dk1]

Would be good if they do extend to Blackpool North in passenger service. Perhaps they are just hedging their bets as will if not just trip there ECS from Preston for servicing.

 

[XCTurbostar]

Report from Rail Magazine:

No immediate plans for Lumo to Blackpool after paths appear online

Open access operator set to start West Coast Main Line services between Stirling and London Euston this year.

www.railmagazine.com

..sources at Lumo have told RAIL there is no immediate plan to run to Blackpool.

The open access operator has made a bid to the Office of Rail and Road. But this is yet to be approved, and the paths which have appeared online merely show how the service would look.

 

[Kite159]

I would imagine at some point those services on RTT will get changed to being in passenger service London to/from Preston with the Blackpool North leg being ECS solely for stabling purposes

 

[XCTurbostar]

Blackpool is far just for stabling. I would have thought some provision is available in the Croft Street Sidings.

 

[weeklycommuter]

I would imagine at some point those services on RTT will get changed to being in passenger service London to/from Preston with the Blackpool North leg being ECS solely for stabling purposes

At present RTT shows empty coaching stock Crewe Carriage Sidings to Blackpool North at the start of the day for a passenger service Blackpool North to London Euston and empty coaching stock Blackpool North to Crewe Carriage Sidings at the end of the day after a passenger service London Euston to Blackpool North.

 

[James90012]

My speculative two pennies.

A fair few of the services have quite lengthy dwells at Preston. I suspect Plan A would be to reduce these in future timetables, but I wondered if Blackpool is a strong Plan B - I.e. splitting a Blackpool set off a Stirling train once the new trains arrive.