East Midlands Railway (EMR) announced cancellations of about 20 fast trains daily on the Midland mainline routes between London, Sheffield, and Nottingham due to ongoing reliability problems with its Hitachi Class 810 trains. These cancellations will occur in the coming weeks, disrupting intercity services on this important route.
Train fleet issues reduce service
The Class 810 bi-mode fleet, introduced this year after a three-year delay, has faced significant performance and reliability challenges. EMR’s managing director, Will Rogers, said the fleet’s performance “has fallen below the levels we and our customers expect,” necessitating a temporary reduced timetable while improvements are sought in coordination with Hitachi Rail,
the manufacturer. EMR also criticised Hitachi’s maintenance of its existing Class 222 trains, which has hindered consistent intercity service operations.
Last month, investigations into the fatal Bedford rail crash revealed a Class 810 train stopped on the mainline due to a fault with the automatic warning system. That train was subsequently struck by another EMR train that had passed a red signal.
Strike ballots raise risk of wider disruptions
The train drivers’ union Aslef has called a strike ballot affecting London-to-Scotland services operated by LNER after a pay deal failed. The ballot was announced on 17 July 2026, with potential strike action possible by late August. Meanwhile,
Avanti West Coast drivers are already voting on strike action amid pay disputes. Aslef’s general secretary, Dave Calfe, described the companies’ failure to propose suitable pay offers as unacceptable, prompting the ballots. The union also declined to renew a rest-day working agreement at Avanti West Coast, causing cancellations.
The Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed it approved a fair and affordable pay deal for LNER but encouraged continued constructive engagement with the union.
Impact on passengers
Passengers on EMR routes should expect about 20 fewer fast trains daily between London, Sheffield, and Nottingham, alongside some trains operating with fewer carriages, leading to crowded conditions.
Potential strike action on LNER’s London-Scotland line and Avanti West Coast routes may cause further service interruptions during the summer. Uncertainty exists for travelers relying on Great Britain’s three main north-south intercity lines, where service cuts and possible strikes converge.
Statements from officials and companies
Will Rogers, EMR’s managing director, said, “We are sorry for the significant disruption and inconvenience these issues have caused our customers, and we are committed to restoring the reliable service they rightly expect.” A Hitachi Rail spokesperson stated the company “continues to work closely with all industry partners … implementing improvements and supporting the transition.” Dave Calfe of Aslef said,
“The company’s failure to make a suitable offer is unacceptable and that’s why we are balloting our members for industrial action.” A Department for Transport representative reaffirmed that LNER received approval for a pay deal and urged the union to engage constructively.
