Members of the RMT union will strike on East Midlands Railway (EMR) services across the East Midlands region on Saturday 1, 8 and 15 August 2026, with further action short of strike planned between 2-7 August, 9-14 August, and from 16 August until further notice. The industrial action stems from ongoing safety concerns raised about EMR’s new Class 810 Aurora train fleet.
Service Reductions and Route Impact
On strike days, EMR will run a significantly reduced timetable. Trains on Intercity and Connect routes will operate only between 07:00 and 19:00. The Nottingham to London St Pancras, Sheffield to London St Pancras, and Corby to London
St Pancras routes will have one train per hour during these periods. Regional rail services will continue to operate normally and will not be affected by the industrial action. EMR has confirmed no rail replacement buses will be provided during the strike days.
Safety Concerns over Class 810 Aurora Fleet
The dispute began in April 2026 after RMT expressed serious safety concerns with the rollout of EMR’s Class 810 Aurora fleet. The union claims the trains have a significant number of faults that occasionally force trains to enter service with defects likely to cause failure and require a full reset. An operational briefing seen by the BBC
detailed that the reset procedure, known as Aux Off / Aux On, lasts approximately 20 minutes and temporarily disables several safety-critical systems. This process increases the risk of uncontrolled evacuation and disables the driver’s normal communication with the signaller.
Official Statements from RMT and EMR
Eddie Dempsey, RMT general secretary, stated that union representatives at EMR had been “extremely patient” attempting to engage with management. He criticized EMR for issuing safety notices without union consultation and insisted that trains must be removed from service until the identified faults are resolved. “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, customer experience director at East Midlands Railway, apologized to passengers affected by the strikes and affirmed EMR’s commitment to resolving the dispute. She defended the Class 810 fleet’s safety credentials, stating, “Any suggestion that the trains do not meet the required safety standards is incorrect. The Class 810 fleet entered passenger service only after successfully completing all required testing and meeting the rigorous safety standards required by the independent regulator.”
Passenger Advisory
Passengers are advised to travel only if their journeys are essential on strike days, as services may
be subject to cancellation or short-notice alterations. EMR advises checking service status before travelling. No rail replacement buses will be provided during the strike periods, and regional services remain unaffected. The dispute affects key routes connecting Nottingham, Sheffield, and Corby with London St Pancras.
