East Midlands Railway (EMR) has suspended multiple London Intercity services indefinitely due to technical and maintenance problems with its new Aurora (Class 810) trains and ongoing issues with older Class 222 units. The cancellations affect routes connecting London with Leicester, Nottingham, Lincoln, Derby, and Sheffield.
Technical faults and maintenance challenges
The Aurora Class 810 trains, manufactured by Hitachi Rail and introduced in December after a three-year delay, have experienced faults impacting toilets, air conditioning, and catering equipment. Additionally, the older Class 222 trains require extra maintenance support to meet increased operation demands. These factors have contributed to service reliability declines and cancellations.
Temporary timetable and fleet rollout plans
National Rail confirmed
EMR has implemented a temporary reduced Intercity timetable designed to maintain consistent and dependable service while addressing ongoing train performance issues. EMR stated that adjustments will remain until the operator and Hitachi Rail resolve the disruptions. Despite current setbacks, controlled deployment of the Class 810 fleet will continue throughout 2026 and into 2027.
Passenger disruption and specific journeys
Passengers have reported significant delays and disruptions. Notably, a traveler on July 17, 2026, experienced nearly a three-hour delay on a trip from London St Pancras to Nottingham via Leicester, with the service terminating early at Leicester due to train faults and requiring a transfer to a
later connection. Reduced train carriages and cancellations have been widespread on London-bound Intercity routes.
Industrial action and union concerns
The RMT union has scheduled strike action at EMR for Saturdays on August 1, 8, and 15, 2026, citing safety concerns related to the new Class 810 trains. The union alleges that many fleet faults exist, with trains occasionally operating without active safety systems, necessitating resets. RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey criticized EMR for issuing safety notices without union consultation and demanded that faulty trains be withdrawn until fixed. EMR continues discussions with the union amid the dispute.
Official statements on fleet performance and safety
EMR Managing Director Will Rogers acknowledged the fleet’s
performance has not met expectations, prompting timetable changes. An EMR spokesperson confirmed the Class 810 trains passed necessary safety testing and standards before entering service and emphasized the ongoing collaboration with Hitachi Rail to resolve reliability and performance issues promptly.
Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire, condemned EMR’s communication regarding cancellations, describing it as contemptuous toward passengers. He expressed concerns over the undefined duration of the reduced timetable.
Impact on travelers and service outlook
The combination of train faults, temporary timetable reductions, and planned strikes is expected to cause sustained travel disruption throughout the summer of 2026 on key London Intercity routes. Passengers should anticipate cancellations,
fewer train carriages on some services, and possible delays as EMR manages ongoing fleet reliability challenges and industrial action.
