The former vicar helping put people at the heart of Lumo's West Coast expansion

Open access rail operator Lumo has appointed a former vicar and railway chaplain to lead community partnerships across its new West Coast route, as the operator looks to build meaningful relationships with organisations from London to Stirling.

Mike Roberts joined Lumo shortly after the launch of its new West Coast services in May, bringing with him seven-and-a-half years' experience supporting railway staff through some of the industry's most challenging moments.

Rather than arriving with a traditional sponsorship background, Roberts spent years working for the Railway Mission charity, providing confidential support to train drivers, station staff, British Transport Police officers and Network Rail teams.

Now, as Lumo's Partnerships Manager, he's applying those same relationship-building skills to connect the operator with charities, tourism organisations, community groups and local businesses along the route.



"The thing that links every role I've ever had is people," he said. "Whether I was a minister, a railway chaplain or now working for Lumo, it's always been about listening to people's stories. It's never about walking into a room saying we've got all the answers. It's about hearing somebody else's story and seeing where it connects with yours."

Lumo's new West Coast route links London Euston with Stirling, calling at Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet, Greenfaulds and Larbert. The operator says the route opens up new opportunities for communities including Whifflet and Greenfaulds, which now have direct rail services to London for the first time in decades.
Mike said Lumo's approach to partnerships is about creating long-term relationships rather than traditional sponsorship deals.

"We're not interested in transactional partnerships," he said. "We want meaningful, genuine relationships where our values align. It's about asking how we can help each other, how we can grow together and how we can make a positive difference in the communities we serve."

The company has already supported Preston Caribbean Carnival and is developing partnerships around events including Stirling Pride and Bloody Scotland, while also working with tourism organisations to promote destinations along the route.

"We're starting with a blank canvas," Mike said. "We're not changing something that already exists. We're starting a new story."

Organisations interested in working with Lumo are encouraged to get in touch as the operator continues to develop partnerships across its expanding West Coast network.

Lumo’s West Coast route links London Euston directly with Stirling, also calling at Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet (serving Coatbridge), Greenfaulds (serving Cumbernauld) and Larbert. The route gives Whifflet and Greenfaulds their first-ever direct rail services to London, providing substantial economic benefits and new travel opportunities.

Lumo also successfully serves the East Coast Main Line, linking Glasgow, Falkirk and Edinburgh with the North East of England and London.

Reach out to Mike by emailing: Mike.Roberts@lumo.co.uk