FirstGroup has submitted an application to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for a new open access rail service between London and Sheffield.
This proposed route is part of an expansion of their Hull Trains business, known for its successful open access services. The new service will offer two return journeys daily from London King’s Cross, with stops at Retford, Worksop, Woodhouse, and Sheffield.
The initiative aims to provide a faster alternative to existing services and reduce car usage on the London-Sheffield corridor. Currently, approximately 75% of trips between these cities are made by car, with 9% by coach. FirstGroup plans to offer competitively priced tickets to encourage a modal shift towards rail travel. This route marks the first regular service from London King’s Cross to Sheffield since 1968 and will also restore direct London services to areas like Worksop, benefiting an estimated 350,000 people.
The application follows the success of FirstGroup’s other open access service, Lumo, which operates between London and Edinburgh and has seen significant growth since its launch in 2021. FirstGroup’s CEO, Graham Sutherland, emphasized the potential economic and environmental benefits of the new service, aiming to replicate Lumo’s success with the London-Sheffield route.
If approved, the service is expected to begin in the second half of 2025. The proposal is currently under consultation, and discussions with Network Rail are underway to secure the necessary approvals.
