The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has announced strike action affecting East Midlands Railway (EMR) staff on August 15, 2026. The strike will lead to significant cuts in services operated by EMR, causing major disruption on affected routes.
Sheffield to London St Pancras Service Reductions
East Midlands Railway will operate only one train per hour between Sheffield and London St Pancras from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the day of the strike. No services will run outside this time frame, severely limiting travel options on this route.
Earlier Service Cuts and Route Changes
Before the strike, EMR had already reduced its Intercity services to London St Pancras as announced in July
2026. This included running trains with fewer carriages on the 6:30 a.m. and 7:02 p.m. departures and canceling daily Intercity trains scheduled at 2 p.m., 2:35 p.m., and 5 p.m.
Passengers holding pre-booked EMR tickets can use these on London North Eastern Railway (LNER) services between Doncaster and London Kings Cross, supported by National Rail arrangements. Travelers should verify their full journey schedules, including the first and last train times, before traveling on August 15.
The disruptions come amid ongoing industrial action by RMT union rail workers. Additional operational challenges have been amplified by a recent heatwave, which has forced
slower train speeds and contributed to service delays and cancellations.
An EMR spokesperson stated, “There will be a significantly reduced train service to/from London St Pancras with trains starting after 7am and finishing before 7pm only. We advise you to check your full journey, including first and last trains, before travelling on these dates.”
