SSP and Servy launch LumoEats on London to Edinburgh train service

UK. SSP UK, through its railway catering arm Rail Gourmet, has launched a branded food pre-ordering service, LumoEats. It has been developed with technology partner and hospitality platform Servy.

The service will be available to travellers boarding trains operated by Lumo, which is an open access operator owned by FirstGroup. It provides low-cost, 100% electric travel between London, north-east England and Scotland.

Passengers using Lumo trains can browse and pre-order meals for their journey using the Lumo website. The digital menu has a wide selection of food & beverage options from SSP’s own brands, such as The Pasty Shop and Upper Crust.

Low-cost train operator Lumo is now taking food & beverage digital pre-orders through LumoEats from passengers using its services

Renowned high street F&B offerings will also be available, SSP said, with more brands to be added in the coming months.

Hot meals ordered via LumoEats will be freshly prepared on the concourse at London King’s Cross or Edinburgh Waverley rail stations. Shortly before departure, orders will be transported in heated bags to Lumo trains, where the Lumo Customer Experience Ambassadors will deliver them directly to customers in their seats.

Also available for pre-order are other food options such as salads, snacks and drinks, which are served to passengers from an onboard trolley during their journey. 

Rail Gourmet Managing Director Andy Webb said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Lumo to provide this exciting new service. The new venture will combine the formidable strengths of SSP’s F&B brands with Rail Gourmet’s expertise in rail catering, supported by cutting-edge technology provided by our partner Servy.

“Offering the convenience of ordering freshly-prepared food that’s delivered quickly and directly to your seat; this new service is set to make a real difference to the F&B offer for rail passengers.” 

Servy Chief Experience Officer Jeff Livney said: “It’s great to be partnering with SSP, Rail Gourmet and Lumo to further revolutionise the rail experience in enabling rail passengers to benefit from our order and pay technology.

“The service will utilise Servy’s seamless technology to allow travellers to quickly and easily find and purchase the meals they love, without the hassle of waiting in line at the station.”

Lumo currently runs two return services per day between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh Waverley stations via Stevenage, Newcastle and Morpeth, which will increase to five daily returns by January 2022.

The train brand offers a single-class service, with free wifi connectivity for all passengers and a promise that 60% of fares will be offered for no more than £30 (US$40).

Lumo Commercial and Customer Experience Director Matthew Lee said: “We really want our passengers to enjoy the Lumo experience from start to finish. LumoEats will allow for a less stressful, smoother journey for customers, with no need to rush to find food before boarding the train as it will be brought to them in the comfort of their own seat.”

Note: The Moodie Davitt Report has recently relaunched its FAB Newsletter. This regular newsletter features highlights of openings, events and campaigns from around the world of airport and travel dining.

Please email Sinead@MoodieDavittReport.com to subscribe.

Food & Beverage The Magazine eZine