Lumo has revealed the first official images of its newly refurbished Class 222 trains, showcasing a bold blue livery that will front its upcoming West Coast open‑access service launching this Spring.
The modernisation programme—delivered by Alstom’s Widnes facility in partnership with Beacon Rail—brings a refreshed exterior and upgraded interiors. Existing seats have been refurbished, with selected coaches receiving new grey‑and‑silver seating designed to improve comfort and the overall passenger experience.
Around 50 VIP guests attended the unveiling at Lumo’s newly opened Preston rail base on Fox Street, which will create approximately 100 new jobs as the operator prepares to introduce direct Scotland–London services.
To mark the opening, Lumo partnered with the vibrant Preston Caribbean Carnival, which delivered a colourful procession from Preston Railway Station to the new headquarters. Twenty performers brought carnival energy to the streets, giving locals an early taste of what’s to come when the festival returns in May.
The event also featured a performance from Scottish boyband Just The Brave, who have amassed more than five million TikTok likes.
Sir Mark Hendrick MP officially opened the new facility, signalling a major step forward ahead of Lumo’s West Coast launch.
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.”
Lumo’s new open‑access service is set to shake up pricing on the competitive Scotland–London corridor, with fares starting from £29.90 between London Euston and Stirling. The route will include stops at Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet, Greenfaulds and Larbert.
Steve Harvey, Services Director UK and Ireland at Alstom, said:
“We’re delighted to give passengers a sneak peek of our refurbished Class 222 trains. This project is a fantastic example of industry collaboration, and our teams have worked proudly alongside Lumo and Beacon Rail to deliver a refreshed, high quality fleet that enhances comfort and reliability for travellers.
“As Lumo prepares to launch its new West Coast service, we’re thrilled that Alstom’s expertise is helping bring these trains back into service in a vibrant new livery, supporting both regional jobs and the wider rail network.”
Adam Cunliffe, Beacon Chief Executive Officer, added:
“Congratulations to Lumo on the opening of their new offices in Preston. Beacon is delighted to be working in partnership with Lumo and Alstom to upgrade the C222s and we look forward to seeing the newly refurbished trains commence passenger services.”
Lumo continues to hold one of the strongest reputations in the UK rail market, known for high customer satisfaction, strong reliability metrics and award‑winning community partnerships.
Image credits: Lumo
