London, 21 January 2025
▶This week, the operator First Rail published a report on the strong track record of Open Access since its subsidiary Hull Trains launched in 2000 – and it looks to serve dozens of new destinations in the future.
▶“Open Access” means commercially driven trains that are not reliant on taxpayer subsidy, delivering affordable fares and growing demand.
▶First’s new Report sets out the economic case for how Open Access can attract people out of cars and planes and onto trains, growing the entire rail sector, while investing in train fleets and customer service.
The data is stunning:
- Before Hull Trains started operating in 2000, there was only one daily service between London and Hull. Now there are eight.
- Independent analysis by Arup shows that, since it began, Hull Trains has delivered £380 million in economic benefits (€450/$464 million).
- Meanwhile, First’s other Open Access operator Lumo has helped generate 6.2 million additional journeys on the London-Edinburgh route since it was launched in 2021, even though just 3.9 million of them were on Lumo trains.
Aurélie Csizmazia from ALLRAIL was in London, UK, this week at the unveiling of the new Report. She says: “Hull Trains, Lumo and other Open Access rail operators across Europe have delivered economic growth, jobs and higher passenger numbers. We need more of these types of services!”
Steve Montgomery, Managing Director First Rail, states: ”There’s a bright future for Open Access train operators everywhere, showing how these innovative companies are essential for a larger and better rail sector.”