- Lumo has confirmed that its five-and-a-half-hour route on the West Coast Main Line between London Euston and Stirling is running without any available toilets, prompting outrage and criticism from passengers.
- On August 1, Lumo acknowledged a fault with toilets on a service from Stirling to Crewe.
- To mitigate the inconvenience, services have been making extended stops at stations such as Preston to allow passengers to disembark and use platform facilities.
- The 6.11am departure from London Euston on Friday ran with a 58-minute delay and terminated at Motherwell, North Lanarkshire.
- Passengers travelling on some services face journeys exceeding five-and-a-half hours without access to onboard toilet facilities.
- The journey between London and Stirling is 417 miles long.
- Train operators in Britain are not legally required to provide onboard toilets, even on long routes like Lumo's service.
- Lumo began operating between London Euston and Stirling on May 25.
Lumo's London-Stirling service is facing significant backlash as passengers endure over five-and-a-half-hour journeys without toilet facilities. The issue, first reported on August 1, has led to delays and extended stops at stations like Preston for restroom access.12345810
A Lumo spokesperson stated, “We have been experiencing some issues with the reliability of some of our toilet facilities onboard our West Coast services.” The operator, owned by FirstGroup, confirmed that all lavatories are currently out of order on its refurbished Class 222 Meridian trains, which also serve East Midlands Railway.
Despite the inconvenience, Lumo is not legally required to provide onboard toilets, a fact that has drawn criticism from travelers. One passenger expressed frustration, saying, “This is shocking. As someone with a medical condition, I can find myself needing a wee every hour on some days.” Another suggested that the operator should face “heavy financial consequence” for the fault.
The operator's social media post regarding the issue has garnered over 500,000 views, with some users humorously questioning the assistance staff could provide, asking, “What assistance can staff provide? A bucket?” As Lumo works with Alstom to rectify the problem, passengers are left to navigate lengthy journeys without essential facilities.
“The fault first surfaced on August 1, and Lumo is working with Alstom to rectify it. One passenger with a medical condition called the situation 'shocking,' while Liberal Democrat Olly Glover asked if Lumo is 'attempting to become the Ryanair of the rails.'”
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