Members of the RMT union will strike on East Midlands Railway (EMR) services on Saturdays 1, 8, and 15 August 2026, due to rising safety concerns related to the Class 810 Aurora train fleet. In addition, RMT plans sustained action short of a full strike from 2 to 7 August, 9 to 14 August, and from 16 August onwards until further notice, the operator confirmed.
Reduced timetable and affected routes
On the strike dates, EMR will operate a limited timetable from 07:00 to 19:00 on its Intercity and Connect routes. Services will run at a frequency of one train per hour between Nottingham and London
St Pancras, Sheffield and London St Pancras, and Corby and London St Pancras. No rail replacement buses will be offered during strike days. Regional rail services operated by EMR will not be impacted by the industrial action. The company advises passengers to only travel if their journeys are essential and to check updated timetables ahead of departure.
Technical issues with Class 810 Aurora fleet
The dispute began in April 2026 following the rollout of the Class 810 Aurora units, which the RMT says are operating with a significant number of faults. EMR reportedly sends trains into service that are likely to fail, requiring a full reset that
leaves safety-critical systems temporarily disabled. An operational briefing obtained by www.bbc.com details the Aux Off / Aux On reset process, which takes roughly 20 minutes and causes loss of driver communication with signallers, increasing risks during an emergency evacuation.
Statements from RMT and East Midlands Railway
Eddie Dempsey, RMT general secretary, stated that union representatives at EMR had been “extremely patient” in addressing issues with management. He criticized EMR for issuing safety notices without consulting union reps who represent workers most at risk. Dempsey emphasized that the union demands removal of the Class 810 trains from service until these faults are resolved and the trains operate safely.
Philippa Cresswell, EMR customer experience director, expressed regret for the inconvenience to passengers caused by the strike. She said EMR remains engaged in talks with the RMT to resolve the dispute swiftly. Cresswell asserted that the Class 810 Aurora trains fully comply with safety standards, having passed all required tests mandated by the independent regulator before entering passenger service.
