Lumo and Hull Trains have appointed Joe Gratton as their new Head of Public Affairs.

Joe joins the First Rail Open Access team from Tees Valley Combined Authority, where he served as Chief of Staff.

He will be based between Newcastle, London, Hull and Preston, where his skills and expertise will enable Lumo and Hull Trains to further enhance relationships with key figures in the communities they proudly serve.

It’s a particularly exciting time to be joining, with both rail operators going from strength to strength. Lumo, renowned for being among the top performing UK operators, recently added Glasgow and Falkirk High to its popular all-electric East Coast Main Line service. The operator has also this week announced that its pioneering new West Coast Main Line service will officially launch on 25 May.

Hull Trains, meanwhile, is celebrating the recent success of being named ‘Operator of the Year’ at the industry-renowned Spotlight Rail Awards. The company also recently secured the highest scoring position in the latest Rail Customer Experience Report. The operator has also just released a special new episode of its popular podcast Moving Minds, marking Mental Health Awareness Week.

Both Lumo and Hull Trains are renowned for their community spirit, championing good causes and local events in the communities they proudly serve. Gratton will be tasked with continuing this vital work as well as ensuring that the operators continue to grow.

Joe said he’s thrilled to be part of the team: “It’s a very exciting time to be joining both Lumo and Hull Trains as we champion the huge benefits that open access rail services are bringing to communities across England and Scotland. We have a real economic success story to tell, and I look forward to getting around the country to do exactly this. 

“I developed a real passion for this industry when working on large scale transport projects in my previous role and this will be a brilliant challenge to help both operators build on the phenomenal success they’ve already had.”

Stuart Jones, Managing Director of First Rail Open Access, added: “It’s a real pleasure to welcome Joe to the team and his passion for what we do is already very clear to see. Both Lumo and Hull Trains are continuing to boost job opportunities, strengthen communities and promote sustainable travel. Joe is going to be a key part of how we tell our story.”

Lumo has been successfully serving the East Coast Main Line for a number of years, linking Glasgow, Falkirk and Edinburgh with the North East of England and London. Lumo’s new West Coast route will link London Euston directly with Stirling, also calling at Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet (serving Coatbridge), Greenfaulds (serving Cumbernauld) and Larbert.

Hull Trains provides seven direct weekday train services between East Yorkshire and London King’s Cross. It also serves destinations including Selby, Doncaster, Retford and Grantham. Before Hull Trains launched services on 25th September 2000, there was just one train per day in each direction.