Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander apologized for the unacceptable service levels provided by East Midlands Railway (EMR) following problems with its new train fleet. Alexander made the statement during a visit to Derby, condemning months of delays, cancellations, and overcrowding on EMR services. She said, “I recognise people have received an unacceptable service this summer and I apologise for that. It’s not good enough.”
Aurora Fleet Issues and Industrial Action
The new Aurora (Class 810) trains supplied by Hitachi Rail entered operation in December 2025 but have caused reliability and maintenance issues since. These problems led to a reduced Intercity timetable and the planned strike action by
RMT union members representing EMR staff. Two planned 24-hour strikes on 16 and 17 September 2026 were called off after talks, though limited industrial action remains affecting punctuality and service completeness.
Timetable Reductions and Service Restoration
Due to the Aurora fleet difficulties, EMR reduced its Intercity timetable running between London St Pancras and the East Midlands to 87% in July 2026. This caused cancellations and fewer carriages on some services. By 1 September 2026, service levels were restored to 92%, with plans to increase to 96% by Monday 19 October 2026 as operational stability improved.
Government Plans for Renationalisation
The UK government intends to renationalise East Midlands Railway by
the end of March 2027 under the new public body Great British Railways. The contract held by EMR with the Department for Transport can be ended without penalty from Sunday 18 October 2026, facilitating the transfer process. Public ownership aims to cut delays, improve infrastructure, and enhance passenger experience, though Transport Secretary Alexander acknowledged that renationalisation will not immediately resolve all issues such as driver shortages and cancellations.
Official Statements and Industry Context
Heidi Alexander stated, “I’ve always been clear that the renationalisation of the railways is not going to be a silver bullet that transforms things overnight,” emphasizing the need to invest in infrastructure
and rolling stock. “So we’ve been clear with East Midlands Railways that, prior to that private company coming into public ownership next year, they have to improve the quality of the service that people are receiving.”
An EMR spokesperson acknowledged a three-year delay in the delivery of the new Aurora trains and confirmed ongoing collaboration with Hitachi Rail and the Department for Transport to increase timetable services. The spokesperson apologized to customers for disruption and pledged to restore full service levels.
The government expects to save £150 million annually by ending payments to private operators through public ownership. Other train
services, including Avanti West Coast, also face nationalisation from March 2027 as part of broader rail reforms.
