The RMT union has confirmed industrial strike action by its members employed at East Midlands Railway (EMR) on August 1, 8, and 15, 2026. The strike will impact key Intercity routes linking Nottingham, Sheffield, and Corby with London St Pancras.
Strike and Industrial Action Timetable
On the strike days, East Midlands Railway will operate a significantly reduced timetable between 07:00 and 19:00 on its Intercity and Connect routes. Service levels 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. Outside of strike days, RMT members will undertake
action short of strike from August 2 to 7, August 9 to 14, and from August 16 onwards until further notice. Rail replacement buses will not be provided during strike days. EMR’s regional services will not be affected and will operate normally throughout this period.
Dispute over Class 810 Aurora Fleet Safety
The labour dispute originated in April 2026 over safety concerns linked to EMR’s new Class 810 Aurora fleet introduced the same year. The RMT claims that the 810 trains have multiple faults necessitating an “Aux Off / Aux On” reset process that takes roughly 20 minutes and temporarily disables critical safety systems and communications. Such
failures reportedly occurred multiple times in one week, causing operational hazards. The dispute intensified following a fatal collision involving two EMR trains near Bedfordshire on June 20, 2026, resulting in the death of a train driver. EMR counters that the Class 810 units met all independent safety regulator standards and passed all required testing before entering service.
Passenger Impact and Service Changes
Passengers should anticipate reduced services on the Intercity and Connect lines following the strike timetable constraints. Only hourly trains between Nottingham, Sheffield, Corby, and London St Pancras will run between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on strike days. Regional routes will operate as
scheduled. EMR advises passengers to travel only if journeys are essential during the strikes and to check complete journeys, including first and last trains, due to likely last-minute timetable alterations. No replacement bus services will be available during strike days. The ongoing action short of strike may cause further disruptions beyond the strike dates.
Official Statements on Safety and Dispute
Philippa Cresswell, EMR’s customer experience director, expressed regret over disruption, stating the operator remains in discussions with RMT to resolve the issue promptly. She affirmed that claims about Class 810 fleet safety are unfounded and that all trains passed rigorous independent tests prior to service introduction.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey criticized EMR for issuing safety notices without union consultation, emphasizing the union’s demand that trains with faults be withdrawn from service until safe. Dempsey said, “The company has even put out safety notices with no involvement, consultation or negotiation with our reps who represent those most at risk.” He added, “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.”
East Midlands Railway Routes and Safety Compliance
East Midlands Railway operates the Sheffield to London St Pancras route along with other Intercity and regional services throughout the
East Midlands region. The Class 810 Aurora fleet introduced in 2026 is subject to strict independent regulator safety standards, which EMR states have been met. Despite this, the RMT union’s safety complaints have led to a prolonged dispute affecting service reliability across major routes connecting Nottingham, Sheffield, Corby, and London.
Details on the duration and full scope of strike-related disruptions beyond the announced dates are not specified. No data on the total number of cancellations or affected passenger volumes has been released. Information on compensation policies or potential mediation efforts was not disclosed.
