East Midlands Railway (EMR) will reinstate some cancelled Intercity services from 31 August 2026, increasing its timetable coverage on the Sheffield and Nottingham routes from 87% to 92% of its full planned schedule.
Aurora Class 810 Train Reliability Issues Led to Service Reductions
The service reductions introduced on 20 July 2026 were caused by reliability issues with the new Aurora (Class 810) trains, which entered service in December 2025 following a three-year delay. Challenges affected both the new Class 810 and older Class 222 trains, including faults with toilets, air conditioning, and catering equipment.
Timetable Adjusted to Train Availability to Enhance Stability
EMR aligned the timetable more closely with the number of trains currently available to increase operational
stability on the Midland Main Line. This adjustment reduced short-notice cancellations and helped stabilise services during July and August 2026.
Joint Action Plan by EMR and Hitachi Rail Targets Fleet Improvements
EMR and Hitachi Rail are working together on an agreed action plan to improve reliability of both Class 810 and Class 222 fleets. Hitachi Rail has increased maintenance activities on the Class 222 trains, improved materials availability, and invested in additional capacity at the Long Marston Innovation Centre for testing and modifications of the Class 810 trains.
RMT Union Action and Safety Concerns Addressed
The RMT union conducted strike action over two Saturdays in early August 2026, citing safety concerns about trains likely to fail and require
resets that temporarily disable safety systems. EMR has denied that the Class 810 fleet failed to meet safety standards. Operational briefings specify that Aux Off / Aux On resets are necessary to recover certain faults on Class 810 units.
Neil Grabham, interim managing director of EMR, said, “The reduced timetable we introduced on 20 July was a difficult but necessary step to ensure we could offer a consistent and reliable service while working through the Intercity fleet challenges with Hitachi Rail, Rock Rail and other partners.” He added that the reduced timetable delivered the stability they aimed for while acknowledging
more work remains.
A Hitachi Rail spokesperson said, “As part of the plan, we have increased maintenance activity on the Class 222 fleet, while also working with our supply chain to improve the availability of materials and components for the legacy fleet.” They apologised for passenger inconvenience and reaffirmed focus on further improvements.
Passenger Benefits from Service Reinstatement
From 31 August 2026, EMR will reinstate five weekday and three weekend Intercity services on the Sheffield route and three weekday and one weekend service on the Nottingham route. The restored services aim to improve reliability following prior disruptions from train faults and RMT strike action.
