Rail firm FirstGroup plans to expand cut-price Lumo services

Train and bus group applies for more ‘open access’ services as government attempts to increase competition

British transport operator FirstGroup has applied for two more “open access” services outside the major train operating contracts as the government attempts to increase competition on the rail network and cut fares.

Open access means the operator takes full commercial risk, running services on infrastructure owned by a third party, on a chosen route that is not subject to a rail franchise set by the Department for Transport.