East Midlands Railway (EMR) services will be disrupted by strike action on three Saturdays in August 2026, according to the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT). Walkouts are planned for August 1, 8, and 15 across the EMR network, which serves central and eastern England, including routes connecting Nottingham, Sheffield, Corby, and London St Pancras.
Strike Cause: Safety Issues Surrounding Class 810 Aurora Trains
The strikes are intended to protest EMR’s continued operation of the Class 810 Aurora trains introduced in December 2025. RMT alleges these trains contain serious faults causing system resets that disable communications and safety features, with incidents occurring repeatedly in recent weeks.
Union general secretary Eddie Dempsey criticised EMR for not withdrawing the trains despite safety concerns. EMR maintains that the fleet meets all required safety standards and emphasizes ongoing collaboration with manufacturer Hitachi Rail to improve reliability.
Strike Schedule and Service Reductions
On each strike day—August 1, 8, and 15—EMR will operate a limited timetable between 07:00 and 19:00. Services on the Nottingham to London St Pancras, Sheffield to London St Pancras, and Corby to London St Pancras routes will be reduced to one train per hour. Regional EMR routes will not be affected. The RMT is also conducting action short of strike from August 2
to 7, 9 to 14, and from August 16 onwards, which may further impact service levels.
Official Statements From RMT, EMR, and Department for Transport
Eddie Dempsey stated that EMR has repeatedly sent trains into service likely to fail and lose safety communications, forcing resets. He confirmed strikes will continue until the Class 810 trains are removed from operation. EMR customer experience director Philippa Cresswell disputed claims that the fleet fails safety requirements, noting the trains passed all regulatory tests before entering passenger service and that the operator is increasing testing efforts with Hitachi Rail. A Department for Transport spokesperson urged both RMT and CrossCountry to resume talks immediately
to resolve the dispute.
Impact on Passengers and Travel Advice
Passengers travelling on EMR services during the strike days should expect a significantly reduced timetable and possible cancellations. EMR advises traveling only if necessary on affected dates. No rail replacement buses will be arranged. Ticket holders will have rights to refunds, changes, or to use tickets on alternative routes or operators where available. Intercity and Connect routes will operate with lower frequency, primarily between 07:00 and 19:00, affecting travel plans on key links to London St Pancras.
Industrial action on EMR is currently the only planned strike affecting UK railways, with no nationwide walkouts announced for
other operators. The August strikes mark the return of major rail industrial action following a largely strike-free start to 2026 on a UK-wide scale.
