Lumo's Class 222s on the Stirling-London Euston route have faced an unprecedented challenge, with reliability issues causing a series of cancellations and a public relations nightmare. The situation has raised questions about the quality of the trains and the effectiveness of the refurbishment process.
The initial operation of the West Coast Main Line using former East Midlands Railway Class 222s was supposed to be a smooth transition. However, the reality has been far from ideal. The number of cancellations increased in late July and early August, with a particularly embarrassing incident on August 7th when the 0611 from Euston had none of its five toilets operational. This led to extended station stops and the eventual cancellation at Motherwell, making national news.
Lumo's response was swift, insisting that the unit did not enter service without working toilets and that all five became unavailable during the journey due to various issues. This response, however, did little to quell the public's concerns. The fact that the trains arrived at Alstom's Widnes facility in a worse condition than expected by engineers and Lumo further exacerbated the situation.
The refurbishment of the five '222s' focused on interiors, including the removal of First Class and reconfiguring the trains from either seven or five cars to six. Despite these efforts, the trains have continued to face reliability issues, with defects and malfunctions causing further cancellations. Alstom's spokesperson acknowledged the shortcomings, stating that the company is working with Lumo to address the unprecedented faults.
The fifth and final set (222605) entered service on August 8th, and it is hoped that a week-long investigation into the reliability issues and repairs at Alstom's Central Rivers depot will help resolve the problems. One unit is stabled overnight at Ferme Park near Hornsey, alongside Lumo's Class 803s used for East Coast Main Line services. However, the lack of regular toilet emptying at Ferme Park remains a concern.
This situation raises important questions about the quality control and oversight of the refurbishment process. It also highlights the challenges faced by open access operators in maintaining a reliable service. The public's trust in the rail industry is at stake, and it remains to be seen whether Lumo and Alstom can restore confidence in their operations.
