Called Lumo, the service will provide low-carbon, affordable long-distance travel for more than one million passengers per year. Over 74,500 passengers currently fly between Edinburgh and London each month, according to UK Civil Aviation Authority figures.
According to the UK Government Reporting Emission Factors 2021 report, rail travel already generates six times fewer carbon emissions than travelling by plane. Lumo expects to be even more carbon efficient than the average rail service because its trains are 100% electric.
Services start on October 25, with their frequency increasing over time to a maximum of 10 services per day by early 2022.
Helen Wylde, managing director for Lumo, said, “The reasons people choose different modes of travel are changing. People are now considering their impact on the environment very carefully. They also expect better service and catering. Lumo is a new rail travel experience that is kinder to the planet and better value for passengers, while never compromising on service.”
Owned by FirstGroup, Lumo has invested £15m (US$21m) on digital and IT infrastructure and £100m (US$138m) on the manufacture and maintenance of five new Hitachi AT300 intercity electric trains.
Lumo intends to publish its carbon emissions data on a regular basis to feed its carbon calculator, which allows passengers to calculate the carbon impact of their Lumo journey and compare it with other ways to travel.