Passengers on a Lumo train traveling from London to Stirling, Scotland, faced significant inconvenience when the six-hour service operated without functioning toilets. The announcement was made approximately two hours after the train's departure from London Euston on Friday morning, leaving travelers with limited options.
Lumo, which runs services between London, the north of England, and Scotland, cited "a fault" for the lack of facilities. The company advised passengers to "speak to our onboard staff for further advice/assistance," a suggestion met with mockery and disbelief on social media.
Social media users questioned the practicality of the advice and the decision to allow the train to depart with such a significant issue. One passenger reported additional delays during the journey, including a 20-minute delay near Nuneaton and a 25-minute stop in Preston, further exacerbating the situation. The train, operating as service 6.11am from London Euston, was scheduled to make 11 stops and cover 417 miles, ultimately terminating at Motherwell, North Lanarkshire.
This is not the first instance of toilet issues on Lumo's West Coast services. A similar situation occurred on August 1, when a five-and-a-half-hour service from London Euston to Stirling also ran with non-operational toilets due to "a fault." During these services, passengers have reportedly been allowed to disembark at stations like Preston to use facilities there.
The trains used on Lumo's West Coast route are refurbished Class 222 Meridian trains, which are also operated by East Midlands Railway, a company that has previously experienced similar toilet faults with its fleet.
In response to the issues, a Lumo spokesperson stated, "We have been experiencing some issues with the reliability of some of our toilet facilities onboard our West Coast services. We are working closely with Alstom to rectify the issues." Alstom was responsible for the refurbishment of the trains for Lumo.
Train operators in Britain are not legally obligated to provide onboard toilets. Lumo operates on an open-access basis, meaning it sets its own fares and receives no taxpayer subsidies. This operational model is distinct from franchised train services that have been subject to renationalization by the government.