Railway News

Japan's government confirmed the Wakasa Route for the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension to Shin-Osaka in July 2026. The 139 km extension includes a 34 km tunnel and is projected to open by 2054.

The RMT union is set to strike on East Midlands Railway on 1, 8, and 15 August 2026 over safety issues with the Class 810 Aurora fleet. EMR will reduce services and urges passengers to travel only if essential on strike days.

England’s rail network faces speed restrictions and timetable changes due to soil shrinkage caused by a heatwave and drought. South Western Railway and eastern operators will reduce speeds and frequencies until ground conditions recover.

RMT union members will strike on East Midlands Railway on 1, 8, and 15 August 2026 citing safety issues with the Class 810 Aurora fleet. EMR will run reduced services with no replacement buses on strike days.

South Western Railway is reducing train services and speeds due to drought-induced soil shrinkage caused by the UK’s fourth heatwave of 2026, affecting routes across England. Network Rail is conducting engineering work and imposing restrictions until ground conditions improve, with journey times increasing by up to 27 minutes between London Waterloo and Exeter.

East Midlands Railway will face RMT union strikes on 1, 8, and 15 August 2026, disrupting key Intercity routes with reduced service hours. The dispute centers on safety complaints about the new Class 810 Aurora fleet and ongoing fault-related operational concerns.

South Western Railway and Network Rail have announced reduced train speeds and timetable changes from 10 August due to heatwave-related soil shrinkage affecting track safety. Passengers on affected routes, including Yeovil to Exeter, should expect slower journeys and reduced service frequency.

The RMT union will strike on EMR services on 1, 8, and 15 August 2026, with reduced hours and hourly trains on major routes to London. The dispute centers on safety faults in the new 810 Aurora fleet requiring temporary resets.

South Western Railway and other operators in England are reducing train speeds and changing timetables from early August due to heatwave-related soil shrinkage. Journey times between London Waterloo and Exeter will increase by up to 27 minutes.

Japan's government confirmed the Wakasa Route for extending the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tsuruga to Shin-Osaka on July 15, 2026. The 139 km extension includes a 34 km tunnel west of Kyoto and features an interchange near Katsuragawa to address environmental concerns.