East Midlands Railway (EMR) will reinstate cancelled Intercity services across the Sheffield and Nottingham routes starting 31 August 2026. The restoration will increase EMR’s Intercity operations from 87% to 92% of its full planned timetable.
Background on Service Reduction and Fleet Introduction
EMR reduced its train services on 20 July 2026 due to reliability issues with new Aurora (Class 810) trains, which were introduced in December 2025 after a three-year delay. The issues also involved the older Class 222 trains, affecting onboard facilities such as toilets, air conditioning, and catering equipment.
Timetable Adjustments and Operational Stability
The July reduction aligned service frequency to match the number of trains available, aiming to maintain
consistent and reliable operations on the Midland Main Line. EMR’s interim managing director Neil Grabham said the move was a difficult but necessary step to address Intercity fleet challenges alongside partners Hitachi Rail and Rock Rail.
Technical and Maintenance Challenges
EMR and Hitachi Rail have identified maintenance and reliability problems with both the Class 810 Aurora trains and Class 222 fleet. Maintenance activities have increased on the Class 222 trains, while capacity has been expanded at Long Marston Innovation Centre for modifications and testing on the Class 810 units. These steps aim to support the transition from older to newer trains and enhance long-term
fleet performance.
Labor Concerns and Official Responses
The RMT union has staged strikes over safety concerns related to train reliability, citing instances where trains required resets that left safety systems inactive. EMR denies any safety standard breaches with the Class 810 trains. A Hitachi Rail spokesperson confirmed that the agreed action plan with EMR is delivering progress, emphasizing ongoing efforts to improve both fleets.
Neil Grabham said, “We are now seeing encouraging signs that the reduced timetable has delivered the stability we were aiming for, and while there is still more work ahead with Hitachi Rail, this stabilisation represents an important milestone.” An EMR spokesperson
stated, “By aligning the timetable more closely with the number of trains currently available, we have achieved greater operational stability.” A Hitachi Rail spokesperson added, “We would like to apologise again to passengers for the inconvenience caused and reiterate that we remain focused on working with EMR and all partners to deliver further improvements.”
Passenger Impact and Service Improvements
From 31 August 2026, EMR will reinstate five weekday and three weekend services on the Sheffield route, along with three weekday and one weekend service on the Nottingham route. Passengers affected by earlier cancellations and service disruptions can expect improved reliability and fewer short-notice cancellations as
operations increase closer to the full planned timetable.
