The Anonymous Widower

Thoughts On Lumo’s Proposed Paddington And Carmarthen Service

Lumo have permission for an open access service between London Paddington and Carmarthen.

• Stops will be Bristol Parkway, Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction, Cardiff Central, Gowerton and Llanelli
• It will be run under the Lumo brand.
• There will be five services per day.

Lumo hope services will start in 2027.

I would suspect that the train would run between London Paddington and Carmarthen like this.

• Run between London London Paddington and Cardiff Central using the 25 KVAC overhead electrification.
• Whilst running between London Paddington and Cardiff Central, the train’s batteries will be fully charged using the overhead electrification.
• Run between Cardiff Central and Carmarthen using the onboard battery power.
• Charge the train as required at Carmarthen.

Note.

1. London Paddington and Cardiff Central is 145.2 miles or 233.7 km.
2. Cardiff Central and Carmarthen via Gowerton is 75.3 miles or 121.2 km.
3. In case of disruption, trains could wait at Cardiff Central, until the batteries had enough charge.

A battery capability of 75.3 miles or 121.2 km will be needed to reach Carmarthen.

A Fast Run Between London Paddington And Bristol Parkway

Consider.

• Currently, the fastest trains to Bristol Parkway take one hour and thirteen minutes between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway.
• The route is fully electrified.
• But the trains do make as many as three stops at Reading, Didcot Parkway and Swindon, before they stop at Bristol Parkway.
• London Paddington and Bristol Parkway are 111.7 miles apart.

This is an average speed of 91.8 mph.

Lumo will be making Bristol Parkway the first stop.

• 60 mins will be 111.7 mph.
• 54 mins will be 125 mph.

It could be a very fast time from London Paddington, if the trains can hold their operating speed of 125 mph for long periods to Bristol Parkway.

I would expect that a fast service between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway could attract passengers, if there were lots of parking.

A Fast Run Between Bristol Parkway And Cardiff Central

Consider.

• Currently, the fastest trains take thirty-five minutes between Bristol Parkway and Cardiff Central.
• The route is fully electrified.
• The speed limit varies between 75 and 90 mph.
• The train makes a single stop at Newport.
• Bristol Parkway and Cardiff Central are 34.2 miles apart

This is an average speed of 58.7 mph.

Lumo will be stopping at Severn Tunnel Junction and Newport.

The time may be a couple of minutes slower.

But I still expect that Cardiff Central will be reached in ninety minutes from London Paddington.

A Battery Run Between Cardiff Central and Carmarthen via Gowerton

Consider.

• Cardiff Central and Carmarthen via Gowerton is 75.3 miles or 121.2 km.
• The route has no electrification
• The train makes stops at Gowerton and Llanelli
• Cardiff Central and Carmarthen via Gowerton has a speed limit of mainly 75 mph, although there are sections up to 90 mph.

Times between Cardiff Central and Carmarthen via Gowerton would be.

At 75 mph the trip would be 60 minutes.

At 80 mph the trip would be 56 minutes.

I would estimate a time between London Paddington and Carmarthen of two hours and 35 minutes, as opposed to an hour longer by Great Western Railway, but that train makes eleven stops, as opposed to the six that Lumo intend to make.

Conclusion

It looks like Lumo will make most of their time savings to Camarthen by cutting stops and high speed running to betweeen London Paddington and Bristol Parkway stations.

January 9, 2025 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Bristol Parkway Station, Cardiff Central Station, Carmarthen Station, Lumo, Lumo Paddington And Carmarthen, Open Access Operators, Paddington Station