The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has declared fresh strike dates for members working at East Midlands Railway (EMR), citing ongoing safety concerns with the new Aurora Class 810 train fleet. The dispute began in April 2026 following the introduction of the Class 810 trains on the EMR network.
Strike Schedule and Prior Actions
RMT members are set to strike for 48 hours from 00:01 BST on 30 August until 23:59 on 31 August 2026, coinciding with the Bank Holiday weekend. A subsequent 24-hour strike will take place from 00:01 BST on 16 September to 11:59 BST on 17 September. These follow three Saturday
strikes held by union members in August 2026. Additionally, RMT personnel are undertaking action short of strike, including refusing to work on the Class 810 trains.
EMR’s Position and Industry Response
East Midlands Railway maintains that no safety-critical faults have been found that prevent the trains from meeting regulatory requirements. The Aurora fleet entered service in December 2025, and EMR has conducted six meetings with RMT representatives to address the concerns. The rail company is collaborating closely with Hitachi Rail to resolve the faults identified by the union.
Union Cited Faults and Safety Risks
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey detailed multiple problems affecting the Class 810 trains, including 16 units requiring
full auxiliary resets which disable active safety systems and communications between train drivers, dispatchers, and trackside staff. Other issues raised include faulty toilets, broken air conditioning, door malfunctions, and instances of trains stranded on tracks. Dempsey stated, “RMT is demanding that whilst these faults exist and until these trains are shown to be operating properly, they should be taken out of service. It is now time for EMR management to act on the safety concerns of our members.”
Impact on Services and Passenger Experience
The strike action is expected to cause disruption on EMR’s mainline intercity services during the specified dates. EMR regional routes will not
be affected by the industrial action. The rail operator reduced services in July 2026 due to reliability problems with the Class 810 trains. EMR customer experience director Philippa Cresswell commented, “We understand how important it is for our customers to have certainty about their travel plans and recognise the uncertainty and disruption this strike action will cause, particularly over the August bank holiday. Our teams are currently working through the detail of our service plan and assessing what services we will be able to operate on the affected days.” EMR has announced plans to reinstate some previously cancelled intercity services
by the end of August.
