East Midlands Railway (EMR) announced strike action by the RMT union scheduled for Saturdays 1, 8, and 15 August 2026, with trains operating reduced hours from 07:00 to 19:00. The RMT notified EMR of additional action short of strike spanning 2-7 August, 9-14 August, and from 16 August onward until further notice.
Key Routes and Service Reductions
On strike dates, hourly train service will run between Nottingham and London St Pancras, Sheffield and London St Pancras, and Corby and London St Pancras on EMR’s Intercity and Connect routes. Regional services outside these routes will continue unaffected. EMR has warned that no rail replacement buses will
be available during strike days and advised customers to travel only if journeys are essential.
Cause of Industrial Action
The strike follows an ongoing dispute since April 2026 over faults in the newly introduced Class 810 Aurora train fleet. RMT claims the trains frequently require a safety-critical reset procedure that disables safety systems temporarily. This reset takes approximately 20 minutes and risks loss of communication and uncontrolled evacuations.
Safety Concerns and Union Demands
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey highlighted union frustration over EMR issuing safety notices without consulting union representatives responsible for those at risk. The union demands all faulty trains be withdrawn from service until they operate safely.
According to Dempsey, “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.”
EMR Response and Passenger Impact
Philippa Cresswell, EMR’s Customer Experience Director, apologized to customers affected by the strike and stated the 810 Aurora fleet met all mandated safety standards following independent testing. “Any suggestion that the trains do not meet the required safety standards is incorrect,” Cresswell said. EMR emphasized ongoing discussions with RMT to resolve the dispute. Passengers must expect cancellations and schedule changes during strike and action short of strike periods.
