The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union announced new strike action by its members working for East Midlands Railway (EMR) over safety concerns related to the Aurora Class 810 train fleet. The RMT plans industrial action including a 48-hour strike starting 00:01 BST on 30 August through 23:59 BST on 31 August 2026, and an additional 24-hour strike on 16 September 2026. These follow three strikes held on Saturdays in August 2026.
Union Safety Concerns and Faults on Class 810 Trains
The RMT has raised multiple safety issues with the Class 810 fleet, which entered service in December 2025. Union members report faults including failed toilets, broken air conditioning,
communication failures, door malfunctions, and instances of trains becoming stranded on the track. According to the RMT, 16 trains currently require a full auxiliary reset, disabling active safety systems and disrupting communication between drivers, dispatchers, and trackside personnel. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey stated the union demands that trains exhibiting these faults be removed from service until fully repaired.
Responses from East Midlands Railway and Union Leadership
East Midlands Railway asserts that no safety-critical faults exist that prevent the Class 810 trains from meeting regulatory safety requirements for passenger operations. EMR customer experience director Philippa Cresswell acknowledged the disruption caused by the strike plans and said the company
is evaluating service operations for the affected periods. The RMT’s Dempsey called on EMR management to address union members’ safety concerns promptly.
Impact on Services During Strike Periods
The upcoming strikes will disrupt Intercity services operated with Class 810 trains, particularly during the August bank holiday weekend and mid-September. EMR’s Regional services will continue unaffected by the strike action. The union’s refusal to operate on Class 810 trains alongside other industrial action short of strikes has already affected service reliability.
Background on Train Introduction and Dispute History
The Aurora Class 810 trains were introduced by EMR in December 2025 to support its Intercity network in the East Midlands region of the UK. Since
April 2026, the RMT has been in dispute with EMR concerning the trains’ numerous defects and safety performance. Previous strikes in August targeted these issues, while EMR reduced services in July 2026 due to reliability problems. EMR has conducted six meetings with union representatives and is collaborating with Hitachi Rail, the train manufacturer, which has increased resources for modifications and testing aimed at resolving technical faults. EMR intends to restore some canceled Intercity services from the end of August.
