Members of the RMT union will strike on August 1, 8, and 15, 2026, over unresolved safety issues concerning East Midlands Railway’s (EMR) new Class 810 Aurora trains. Action short of strike will occur from August 2 to 7, August 9 to 14, and from August 16 onwards until further notice, impacting EMR’s operations.
Reduced Timetables on Strike Days
On the three strike Saturdays, EMR will run a significantly reduced timetable with trains operating only between 07:00 and 19:00 on its Intercity and Connect services. Service frequency will be limited to one train per hour on the Nottingham to London St Pancras, Sheffield to London
St Pancras, and Corby to London St Pancras routes. EMR stated no rail replacement buses will be provided during the strike days, while regional rail services are expected to remain unaffected.
Safety Faults in Class 810 Aurora Fleet
The strike arises from a dispute dating back to April 2026 over safety faults associated with the rollout of EMR’s Class 810 Aurora trains. RMT claims a significant number of these trains have faults requiring a full reset process that temporarily disables essential safety systems. This reset, known as an Aux Off / Aux On procedure, takes around 20 minutes during which safety-critical systems are inactive, increasing risks including
loss of driver communication with signallers.
Official Statements on Dispute
Eddie Dempsey, RMT general secretary, said union representatives had tried to engage with EMR management but criticized the company for issuing safety notices without union consultation. Dempsey stated, “RMT is demanding that whilst these faults exist and until these trains are shown to be operating properly, they should be taken out of service.”
Philippa Cresswell, EMR’s customer experience director, apologized to customers affected by the industrial action and defended the safety of the Class 810 trains. She said the fleet met all safety standards after successful testing by the independent regulator. “Any suggestion that
the trains do not meet the required safety standards is incorrect,” Cresswell said, emphasizing the company’s commitment to resolving the dispute.
Passenger Impact and Advice
Passengers on EMR’s Intercity and Connect routes should expect cancellations and timetable changes with limited services on strike days advised for essential travel only. EMR urges customers to check travel information prior to journeying on August 1, 8, and 15, 2026. Regional services will continue to operate as usual during the strike and action short of strike periods.
