Lumo, the UK’s leading open access rail operator, welcomed three authors from Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival onboard today (10 September 2025) to write a brand-new thriller live at 125mph.

Gordon Brown (AKA Morgan Cry), Douglas Skelton and Natalie Jayne Clark boarded the 09:24 Lumo service from Edinburgh to London King’s Cross, where they took turns to craft an original short story inspired by the East Coast Main Line, the characters they met onboard, and suggestions from online crime fans.

The authors also hosted a high-speed book signing during the journey before returning to Edinburgh the same evening to continue the collaborative tale. The finished story will be released in written and audiobook form for Lumo customers to enjoy in the coming weeks.

Bloody Scotland board member and author Gordon Brown, said: “It’s amazing how many ideas come to you when you’re in a real-world travel environment. You experience and hear things first hand that can spark inspiration, and then your creative mind takes over. To work alongside the other authors was a real honour, and I hope some of the customers we met today might join us at Bloody Scotland this weekend.”

Richard Salkeld, Head of Communications and Partnerships at Lumo, said: “At Lumo we’re all about creating memorable journeys, so what better way than to have three of the UK’s top crime writers dream up a brand-new thriller live on board? Our partnership with Bloody Scotland is about celebrating creativity and connecting communities, and today our customers got to be part of a story that started at 125 miles an hour on the East Coast Main Line.”

All three authors are appearing at this year’s Bloody Scotland, Scotland’s International Crime Writing Festival, which takes place in Stirling from 12–14 September. Lumo is a proud partner of the event and will soon launch direct services between London Euston and Stirling, strengthening its commitment to connecting Scotland and beyond.

Bob McDevitt, Director of Bloody Scotland, said: “We’re always on the lookout for something new to do at the festival and can’t wait to see how this high speed crime story turns out – will the authors stay on the right track or will they go off the rails?!”

Earlier this week Lumo hosted a Scotland Growth Roundtable with the Scottish Chamber of Commerce in Stirling which brought together Stirling and North Lanarkshire business leaders, politicians, and local councils to discuss the social, economic and environmental benefits of Lumo’s new services launching next year.