FirstGroup has applied for an open access licence to run trains between London and Hereford.

Its application to the Office of Rail and Road sets out proposals for two return journeys a day (with one on Sundays) between London Paddington and Hereford, calling at Bristol Parkway and Severn Tunnel Junction as well as at Cwmbran, Pontypool & New Inn and Abergavenny. The services would be branded Lumo.

First already possesses open access licences for new services from London to Stirling and Carmarthen, but other applications, including some from First, are still outstanding. Although the Prime Minister has praised open access in principle, the Department for Transport has declined to support most of these applications, with the exception of a bid from Alstom to run between London and Wrexham, but the Wrexham proposals have been greeted with caution by Network Rail, which is concerned about the presence of level crossings on the route and also limited capacity nearer London.

A consultation period over the Hereford plan will now follow, as well as discussions with Network Rail to secure the required approvals. First said the new service would operate in conjunction with First’s London-Carmarthen service, which is due to start in December 2027, and First is hoping that its Hereford service could begin at the same time.

First placed an order for 14 trains from Hitachi worth £500 million in December, and it has an option for a second order.

FirstGroup’s chief executive officer Graham Sutherland said: ‘We have extensive experience of running open access rail operations and we want to bring our successful Lumo service to this new route that connects Hereford, South Wales and London. Open access operators deliver trains to under-served routes, offering passengers choice at competitive fares. Passenger surveys routinely report very high satisfaction levels, and open access operators are giving customers new travel options and driving demand, paying their own way without public funding. We will be working closely with stakeholders as we build our application and our case for this new service.’

First is losing all its former franchise contracts between now and 2027. South Western Railway was renationalised on 25 May this year, and Avanti West Coast and Great Western Railway will also return to public ownership in due course.

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