Train operator Lumo has been heavily criticized after running services on its London Euston to Stirling route without functioning toilets, a journey that typically lasts around six hours. The issue came to light on Friday, August 7, when the 6:11am service from London Euston departed without any toilet facilities due to a fault, leading to widespread ridicule and concern among passengers.
Apology and disruption on affected services
Lumo issued an apology on social media platform X, stating: 'Apologies to those boarding our 06:11 service from London Euston to Stirling are advised that there are no toilet facilities on this train due to a fault. Please do speak to our onboard staff for further advice/assistance.' The service ran with a 58-minute delay and terminated at Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, approximately 30 miles short of Stirling. Lumo also flagged a similar issue on Saturday, when a toilet was out of action due to the same fault.
To mitigate the inconvenience, services have been making longer stops at stations such as Preston to allow passengers to use platform toilets. The affected trains are Class 222 Meridian units, refurbished for Lumo by Alstom.
Political and public backlash
Olly Glover, the Liberal Democrat MP for Didcot and Wantage, mocked the operator on social media, asking: 'Is Lumo attempting to become the Ryanair of the rails? Literally taking the p**s.' His comment drew attention to the absurdity of operating a long-distance service without basic sanitary facilities.
Passengers also expressed their frustration, with one person joking: 'What assistance can staff provide? A bucket?' Another said: 'Quite simply you should not be running that train until it is fixed. How can it *possibly* be acceptable to run a 6 hour train service with no sanitary facilities?' Many raised concerns about the impact on passengers with disabilities or health conditions who may rely on accessible toilets.
Lumo and Alstom respond
A Lumo spokesperson said: 'We have been experiencing some issues with the reliability of some of our onboard toilet facilities onboard our West Coast services. We are working closely with Alstom to rectify the issues.' Alstom, which refurbished the trains, also issued a statement: 'We recognise that this falls short of the standard fare-paying passengers should expect, particularly on long-distance services. Working closely with Lumo, we are reviewing the entire fleet position to reduce the risk of repeat failures, improve overnight servicing checks, and ensure toilet availability is restored and maintained wherever possible on the operator’s West Coast route.'
Legal context and industry changes
Train operators in the UK are not legally required to provide toilets on board, but passengers typically expect them on long-distance services. The incident comes amid broader changes in the UK railway industry, with several operators being brought back into public ownership under the government's Great British Railways initiative. Lumo, however, operates on an open-access basis, meaning it sets its own fares, takes on revenue risk, and does not receive taxpayer-funded subsidies.
Impact and next steps
The lack of working toilets on six-hour journeys has raised serious questions about passenger comfort and accessibility. As Lumo works with Alstom to resolve the fault, passengers are advised to speak to onboard staff for assistance. The operator's reputation has taken a hit, with social media users and politicians alike calling for better standards. The incident highlights the challenges faced by open-access operators in maintaining service quality while competing on the busy West Coast Main Line.
