Yesterday, when musician Luke Hart boarded a Lumo train to London, he likely never expected to be slapped with a £40 fine before he even reached his final destination.
An independent artist who regularly promotes his music on TikTok, Luke was travelling to the capital to perform a gig.
But midway through his journey, a ticket attendant fined him £40 for carrying a guitar onboard.
Unaware of the policy, Luke took to social media to consult his followers, posting a video alongside the caption: ‘Is this a real rule, because what the heck?’
While some were equally confused, many confirmed that ‘large instruments’ are in fact listed as prohibited items on the Lumo website.
And guitars aren’t the only objects the train operator has an issue with.
First launched in 2021, Lumo is one of the most popular low-cost train services in the UK, running five direct services a day from London King’s Cross to destinations like Newcastle, Edinburgh, and Stevenage.
While it is oftentimes referred to as ‘Ryanair of the rails’ on social media, it tends to receive relatively positive customer service reviews.
That being said, customers do regularly comment on its ‘strict baggage allowances’.
What items are banned on Lumo trains?
According to Lumo’s terms and conditions, all customers can bring a maximum of one small bag or small holdall and one medium suitcase (63 x 41 x 27cm) onboard.
However, golf clubs and large musical instruments are not permitted.
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So, it might also be a good idea to leave your Driver and Putters at home.
The company explicitly states that passengers whose luggage exceeds these limits may face a £40 charge or be refused travel if the items cannot be safety stored on busy services.
So, technically Luke was in the wrong. The terms and conditions do make it rather clear.
However, that didn’t stop users on TikTok running to his defence:
‘That’s such a strange policy,’ @cat wrote, ‘it seems as if it’s just a way to squeeze money out of people.’
One user, @lilzi, noted: ‘I’ve literally taken a pair of skis from Cornwall to London in a roller bag, how is a guitar not allowed?!’
‘So many bands I’ve worked with have travelled by train in the past. This is lunacy! I’ll let everyone know about this stupid rule so they don’t get caught out too,’ @Jackieinthenorth added.
It does seem as though baggage restrictions get more and more extreme by the day.
Just a few months ago, a video similar to Luke’s went viral on TikTok after a Wizz Air passenger discovered that the airline does not considered neck pillows a ‘separate free item’, meaning they’re required to fit in your cabin bag.
If it doesn’t, you could end up with a £55 fine.
Talking to his followers about the Lumo incident in more detail, Luke addressed Prime Minister Andy Burnham directly:
‘This has got to change. Bit of a Hail Mary, Andy Burnham – I don’t know if you’re going to see this video. But if you somehow do, what the hell? £40 is not disposable to me.’
