Lumo, the UK’s all-electric rail operator, has debuted a vibrant Smurfs-themed train as part of a partnership with Paramount Pictures, celebrating both the release of the upcoming animated film and the sustainability values shared by both brands.
The launch, which took place at London King’s Cross Station, featured a public unveiling of the redesigned train adorned in bright blue Smurfs artwork, drawing crowds and capturing attention across the travel corridor. Rylan, who voices Vanity Smurf in the new film, attended the event alongside other celebrity guests before boarding the newly wrapped train for a VIP journey to Edinburgh.
Stuart Jones, Managing Director of Lumo, stated:
“Everyone at Lumo is very excited to be working with Paramount Pictures to spread the word about the brilliant new Smurfs movie. The Smurfs are well known for promoting sustainability, and we’re proud to be green at heart as a company too. That, coupled with their iconic blue color, made this the perfect partnership.”
While the exterior may be playful, the message is serious: electric trains like Lumo’s offer a dramatic reduction in carbon emissions at a time when domestic travel continues to face scrutiny over its climate impact.
According to the 2023 Lumo Sustainability Report, created in collaboration with Arup, Lumo’s electric service emits just 6.8 kgCO₂e per one-way trip between London and Edinburgh. In contrast, the same journey by air emits 149 kgCO₂e per passenger. That means a single flight generates the same emissions as 22 Lumo journeys.
Even when compared with electric vehicles, Lumo still comes out ahead. On average across routes, Lumo’s emissions are:
Lumo’s sustainability impact becomes more evident when scaled. The report shows that if just 15% of air passengers flying from Heathrow to Edinburgh had instead taken Lumo in a single year, the UK could have cut 25,600 tonnes of CO₂e—a savings equivalent to the annual carbon sequestration of over one million trees.
The UK government’s Transport Decarbonization Plan calls for significant modal shifts to public transport if the nation is to meet its 2050 net-zero target. With electric rail powered increasingly by a greener national grid, Lumo is positioned as a leading force in that transition.
Notably, Network Rail already sources low-carbon electricity from EDF Energy for its traction needs, further enhancing the sustainability credentials of operators like Lumo.
The Smurfs-themed train is now in regular service, offering both affordability and eco-conscious style to passengers traveling between London, Stevenage, Newcastle, Morpeth, and Edinburgh. As families gear up for the film’s July 18 release, the train offers a memorable—and meaningful—way to engage with both pop culture and climate action.
The partnership underscores how entertainment companies like Paramount and transport providers like Lumo can work together to make sustainability more visible and fun.
“I’m delighted with our new ‘Smurfs train’ and can’t wait for everyone to enjoy spotting it along our route this summer,” Jones added.
The environmental case for Lumo will only strengthen in the coming years. With the UK grid projected to become even cleaner, Lumo’s emissions are expected to drop by 54% by 2027, according to the Arup report. Meanwhile, aviation emissions are projected to fall by only 4% in the same timeframe, even with the introduction of limited sustainable aviation fuels.
