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Eversholt Rail to lease trains for new First Group London to Stirling open access service

Eversholt Rail announces that it has signed contracts with First Group plc to lease five Class 222 trains for their new London to Stirling services.

The new service is being operated under the successful Lumo brand and is expected to commence from mid-2026.

The Class 222 trains will be returned from East Midlands Railway from September 2025 and Alstom will carry out maintenance and upgrades. These include reforming the train to 6 cars, an exterior repaint, extensive interior upgrades, the fitting of CCTV and a new Intelligent Engine Start Stop system. This work will be carried out at Alstom’s Central Rivers and Widnes sites.

Darren Spence, Commercial Director, Eversholt Rail said “We are pleased to be supporting First Group with their new open-access service. Our Class 222 trains are an ideal fleet to provide quality high-speed intercity services between London and Scotland. The modification work being delivered by Alstom will provide passengers with new ergonomically designed seating and upgraded wi-fi to enhance their journey experience”.

Graham Sutherland, Chief Executive Officer, FirstGroup said “We are pleased to work with Eversholt Rail and Alstom on the rolling stock element of our new service between London and Stirling. This new route is another important step towards rolling out Lumo as a nationwide operator and growing our open access capacity, a key priority for FirstGroup. Our investment and capabilities in open access rail have delivered reliable, value for money services, grown rail demand and helped to spur economic growth and connect communities. We look forward to doing the same on our new services.”

Peter Broadley, Commercial Director UK and Ireland, Alstom, said “This partnership marks a significant milestone in our commitment to delivering high-performance, customer-focused rail services across the UK. By combining Alstom’s deep technical expertise with the operational excellence of FirstGroup and Eversholt Rail, we’re ensuring that fare-paying passengers benefit from a modern, reliable and comfortable travel experience between Stirling and London. The investment in both refurbishment and long-term support reflects our shared ambition to drive innovation and sustainability in rail transport.”

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