The RMT union has planned strike action affecting East Midlands Railway (EMR) on three Saturdays in August 2026: the 1st, 8th, and 15th. Additionally, short of strike action is scheduled from 2 to 7 August, 9 to 14 August, and from 16 August until further notice. On strike days, EMR will operate a limited timetable from 07:00 to 19:00 on Intercity and Connect routes, running one train per hour between Nottingham and London St Pancras, Sheffield and London St Pancras, and Corby and London St Pancras. No rail replacement buses will be available during strike days, while regional services will
continue unchanged.
Safety Concerns Over Class 810 Aurora Fleet
The strike stems from safety concerns raised by the RMT union regarding faults in the newly introduced Class 810 Aurora train fleet. The dispute began in April 2026, coinciding with the rollout of the 810 units. According to the union, EMR has been putting trains into service that are prone to failure and require a full reset, temporarily disabling critical safety systems. The union claims the company has failed to adequately address these growing safety issues despite repeated engagement attempts.
Service Reductions and Passenger Impact During Strikes
Passengers traveling on strike days should expect significant service disruptions. EMR will run fewer trains, only during the
hours of 07:00 to 19:00 on specified route segments. The hourly service between Nottingham, Sheffield, and Corby to London St Pancras will be maintained at a reduced frequency of one train per hour. The operator advises passengers to only travel on strike days if their journeys are essential. Rail replacement buses will not replace cancelled trains on strike days. Regional services operated by EMR will not be affected by the industrial action. EMR warned customers that train schedules may be subject to last-minute changes and cancellations throughout the strike period.
Union and Operator Statements on Safety and Strike Demands
Eddie Dempsey, RMT general secretary, said union representatives at East
Midlands Railway have been “extremely patient” in attempts to engage with management. He emphasized that the company issued safety notices without consulting union reps and demanded that until the faults in the Class 810 fleet are resolved, these trains must be removed from service. “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,” Dempsey said.
Philippa Cresswell, EMR’s customer experience director, apologized to passengers impacted by the strikes and affirmed that the Class 810 Aurora trains meet all required safety standards. She stated the
trains entered passenger service only after passing rigorous independent regulatory tests. Cresswell said the operator continues constructive discussions with RMT to resolve the dispute swiftly.
Operational Impact of Class 810 Train Faults
An internal briefing reviewed by the BBC outlined that certain faults in Class 810 units require an Aux Off / Aux On reset procedure lasting approximately 20 minutes. This reset leads to a temporary loss of several safety-critical systems on the trains. The resulting risks include potential uncontrolled evacuations and the driver losing normal communication with signallers during the reset period. These operational risks form a core part of the RMT’s safety concerns driving the
strike action.
