The RMT union plans strike action on Saturdays 1, 8, and 15 August 2026 affecting East Midlands Railway (EMR) services due to safety concerns about the Class 810 Aurora train fleet. On these dates, EMR will operate a reduced timetable from 07:00 to 19:00 on Intercity and Connect routes, with trains running once an hour between Nottingham, Sheffield, Corby and London St Pancras.
From 2 to 7 August, 9 to 14 August, and from 16 August onward until further notice, EMR reported members will undertake action short of strike, potentially impacting service reliability. Passengers are advised to only travel if
journeys are essential on strike Saturdays. No rail replacement bus services will be available during strike days. Regional services remain unaffected.
RMT Safety Concerns and Background
The dispute originated in April 2026 after the introduction of the Class 810 Aurora fleet. The RMT alleges a significant number of faults in the new trains, asserting that some are sent into service despite being “likely to fail and require a full reset,” which disables active safety systems temporarily. According to an operational briefing seen by BBC, the “Aux Off / Aux On” reset process takes around 20 minutes and temporarily disables multiple safety-critical systems, increasing the risk
of uncontrolled evacuations and cutting driver communication with signallers.
Statements from RMT and East Midlands Railway
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said union representatives at EMR had been “extremely patient” but management issued safety notices without consultation. He called for the Class 810 trains to be taken out of service “whilst these faults exist and until these trains are shown to be operating properly.”
Philippa Cresswell, EMR’s Customer Experience Director, acknowledged the disruption and said EMR is engaging constructively with RMT to resolve the dispute. She stated the Class 810 trains meet all necessary safety standards and entered passenger service only after completing required regulatory testing.
Passenger Impact and Service Reductions
Train
cancellations and delays will occur on strike days, with EMR running a significantly reduced service limited to the hours of 07:00 to 19:00. Service on the Nottingham–London St Pancras, Sheffield–London St Pancras, and Corby–London St Pancras routes will be limited to one train per hour. No replacement bus services will operate during strike days, and regional EMR routes will continue running without disruption.
Passengers are urged to verify train times before travel and to consider journeys on strike days as essential only. On the days of action short of strike, services may face short-notice changes due to ongoing industrial action.
Details on Train Reset Procedure
The Class 810 trains require an “Aux Off / Aux On” reset to recover from certain faults, a process lasting approximately 20 minutes. This reset disables safety-critical systems temporarily, removing the driver’s normal communication channels and increasing safety risks, according to documentation reviewed by BBC. The RMT has highlighted this as a principal cause for safety concerns and strike action.
