The RMT union has scheduled strike action on East Midlands Railway services for Saturdays 1 August, 8 August, and 15 August 2026, with additional action short of a strike from 2 to 7 August, 9 to 14 August, and from 16 August until further notice.
Train Service Reductions and Route Details
On strike days, East Midlands Railway will operate a significantly reduced timetable between 07:00 and 19:00 on its Intercity and Connect routes. Services running between Nottingham and London St Pancras, Sheffield and London St Pancras, and Corby and London St Pancras will be limited to one train per hour. Rail replacement buses will not be
provided on strike days. Regional services across the East Midlands region are not affected by the industrial action.
Strike Cause: Safety Concerns over Class 810 Aurora Fleet
The strike stems from safety concerns related to the rollout of East Midlands Railway’s new Class 810 Aurora trains. The RMT claims the fleet has multiple faults that cause trains to require a full reset, temporarily disabling several safety-critical systems for approximately 20 minutes. This reset process increases the risk of an uncontrolled evacuation and prevents drivers from communicating with signallers via normal channels.
Official Statements from RMT and East Midlands Railway
Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the RMT union, said union representatives have been “extremely patient” but criticized East
Midlands Railway for issuing safety notices without union involvement. He 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, customer experience director at East Midlands Railway, denied the safety complaints and confirmed that the Class 810 fleet had passed all required testing and met independent regulatory safety standards before entering passenger service. She expressed apologies to customers affected by the disruption and said EMR is engaged in constructive discussions with the union.
Passenger Advisories and Travel Impact
Passengers are advised to travel only if journeys are
essential on strike days: 1, 8, and 15 August 2026. East Midlands Railway warned of possible short-notice cancellations and alterations during the industrial action. No rail replacement bus services will be available, and regional train services will continue operating without disruption.
