East Midlands Railway (EMR) has reduced its services indefinitely since July 20, 2026, due to operational issues with the new Class 810 Aurora trains introduced in December 2025. Approximately 20 fast Intercity trains per day connecting London St Pancras with Leicester, Nottingham, Lincoln, Derby, and Sheffield are canceled or operating with fewer carriages.
Operational Causes Behind Service Reductions
The introduction of the Class 810 fleet was delayed by three years, contributing to current operational problems. EMR is managing ongoing reliability and maintenance challenges not only with the new Class 810 units but also with the legacy Class 222 trains. These issues have significantly impaired EMR’s
capacity to provide a dependable Intercity service across the Midland mainline.
According to an EMR spokesperson, the new Class 810 trains were intended to smoothly replace the Class 222 fleet with overlapping operation and maintenance by Hitachi Rail. Despite meeting all required safety standards following testing and regulatory approval, service reliability has not consistently met EMR’s expectations.
Passenger Entitlements and Ticketing Adjustments
Customers holding tickets for affected services can travel on alternative trains up to two departures before or after their booked Intercity service on routes involving London St Pancras, Leicester, Nottingham, Lincoln, Derby, and Sheffield. Those who choose not to travel have the option
to request a full refund from EMR.
Statements from East Midlands Railway Management
Will Rogers, Managing Director of East Midlands Railway, stated the Class 810 fleet’s performance has “fallen below the levels we and our customers expect,” prompting necessary timetable alterations. He acknowledged customer frustration and said frontline staff face challenges delivering service amid ongoing reliability issues.
An EMR spokesperson added that service reliability problems combined with the delayed introduction of the Aurora trains have severely impacted the operator’s ability to run consistent Intercity routes.
Hitachi Rail Efforts and Fleet Rollout Plans
Hitachi Rail has delivered over one-third of the Class 810 fleet to EMR since December 2025 and continues to support the
fleet’s introduction. The manufacturer is investing in additional testing at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre to enhance reliability during the transition from the Class 222 fleet to the new Aurora trains.
The rollout of the Class 810 fleet will continue in a controlled manner through 2026 and 2027 while EMR works with Hitachi Rail to resolve disruption issues.
Industry and Political Reactions
Bruce Williamson, representing the rail passenger group Railfuture, criticized the service reductions, calling them a “step in the wrong direction” for passengers seeking more reliable and less crowded trains. Harborough MP Neil O’Brien described the ongoing situation as “a total mess”
persisting for months.
The reductions coincide with the summer period when planned rail maintenance commonly affects UK timetables. Additionally, potential strike action by LNER train drivers threatens further disruptions on northern routes connecting London King’s Cross with cities beyond the Midlands.
