East Midlands Railway (EMR) has been instructed by the Department for Transport (DfT) to quickly improve its performance before its expected renationalisation by the end of 2027. The government confirmed the operator is scheduled to enter public ownership as part of its wider rail reform strategy.
Aurora Fleet Issues Lead to Service Disruptions and Strikes
Since December 2025, EMR’s new Aurora (Class 810) trains manufactured by Hitachi Rail have caused significant operational difficulties. Reliability problems and delayed deliveries have resulted in months of delays, cancellations, and overcrowding, particularly on the East Midlands intercity routes to London St Pancras. In July 2026, reduced service levels and maintenance challenges prompted a
temporary cutback in the timetable and led to strike action by RMT union members representing EMR staff. The managing director of EMR resigned amidst these ongoing issues.
Timetable Adjustments From July to October 2026
EMR lowered its Intercity timetable to 87% capacity starting in July 2026. Service levels increased to 92% on September 1, citing improved operational stability. Further restoration plans aim to reach 96% operation by October 19. The DfT’s public sector operator unit is collaborating closely with EMR and Hitachi to fully reinstate the intercity schedule.
Official Statements and Political Responses
The Department for Transport urged EMR to “do everything they can to resolve the issues as quickly as possible
to minimise the impact and give passengers a more reliable service.” Labour MP James Naish criticized repeated contract extensions to underperforming private companies, stating, “If you keep extending contracts to the same failing companies, that isn’t a great incentive for them to get better.” Conservative MP Neil O’Brien warned that public ownership itself would not immediately fix problems, noting the lack of additional trains or near-term improvements for passengers.
Railfuture’s East Midlands branch secretary Steve Jones expressed cautious optimism about the coming changes, hoping renationalisation would bring “much better coordination and integration across the network to the benefit of passengers
and freight.”
Renationalisation and Broader Rail Network Reforms
The government plans to transfer EMR and other DfT-contracted rail services into public ownership, creating a unified network under Great British Railways (GBR) by the end of 2027. This aims to reverse three decades of fragmentation, improve service quality, and save around £150 million annually by eliminating payments to private operators. Other operators such as Great Anglia and South Western Railway are already nationally owned, with Avanti West Coast joining in March 2027.
The earliest the government can trigger the transfer without penalty is October 18, 2026, which marks the core term expiry date of EMR’s contract.
Unspecified Timelines and Measures Ahead of Public Ownership
EMR
has not been formally told the exact date of transfer into public ownership. The company stated the reduced timetable was necessary due to a three-year delivery delay of the Aurora trains and maintenance issues affecting their ability to maintain a consistent Intercity service. It reaffirmed commitment to restoring full service levels as soon as possible in coordination with Hitachi Rail and the DfT.
The Department for Transport emphasized that renationalisation is a crucial step toward greater rail network integration but not an immediate solution for all operational problems. Continuous performance monitoring and accountability measures remain in place as the transition
proceeds.
