East Midlands Railway (EMR) announced the cancellation of approximately 20 fast trains daily on the Midland mainline between London, Sheffield, and Nottingham due to ongoing reliability problems with its Hitachi class 810 bi-mode trains.
Several other EMR trains have been shortened, resulting in crowded conditions as the new class 810 trains, introduced this year after a three-year delay, continue to underperform. EMR also attributed service inconsistencies to Hitachi’s maintenance of the older class 222 trains that the class 810s are replacing. EMR’s managing director, Will Rogers, said the class 810 fleet’s performance fell below expectations, necessitating a temporary reduced timetable.
Strike Ballots on LNER and Avanti West Coast
The train drivers’ union Aslef has called a strike ballot at London North Eastern Railway (LNER), which operates routes between London and Scotland, after a pay agreement failed to materialize. Aslef members are also currently voting on strike action at Avanti West Coast, affecting services on the West Coast mainline. The union has not renewed a rest-day working agreement at Avanti West Coast, causing some cancellations already.
Aslef general secretary Dave Calfe described the failed pay offers as unacceptable and said this led to the industrial action ballots. The Department for Transport (DfT) refused to approve a pay deal agreed
at LNER. A DfT spokesperson said LNER received approval for a fair and affordable settlement and urged continued union engagement. Strike action on these northbound intercity lines could begin by late August 2026.
Delayed Trains and Bedford Crash Investigation
The class 810 trains, a key factor in EMR’s schedule cuts, are bi-mode and capable of operating on electric and diesel power. Their delayed introduction and technical issues have hindered EMR’s delivery of reliable services. Additionally, investigations into the fatal Bedford rail crash last month continue. Initial findings indicate a fault in the automatic warning system caused one EMR Aurora train to halt on the mainline before
being struck by another EMR train that passed a red signal.
Official Responses and Industry Context
EMR’s Will Rogers expressed regret over the disruption and affirmed commitment to restoring dependable services while collaborating with Hitachi Rail to improve class 810 performance. A Hitachi Rail spokesperson said the company is working closely with industry partners to implement improvements and support the transition to the new fleet.
Dave Calfe of Aslef emphasized that the pay offer failures are unacceptable, prompting the industrial action ballots. The Department for Transport reiterated that it has given LNER approval for a fair and affordable deal and encouraged constructive engagement between the
union and operator.
Passenger Impact
Passengers on EMR’s Midland mainline should expect cancellations of about 20 fast services daily between London, Sheffield, and Nottingham, with additional short-formed trains causing likely overcrowding. Potential strikes on LNER and Avanti West Coast present further risks of delays and cancellations across Great Britain’s three key north-south intercity rail routes starting possibly by late August.
Service disruptions are compounding days of service cuts tied to new train reliability problems and unresolved pay disputes among train drivers.
