East Midlands Railway (EMR) will cancel hundreds of intercity services on its Midland mainline from July 2026 due to ongoing problems with its class 810 bi-mode trains, branded Auroras. Around 20 fast trains per day between London, Sheffield, and Nottingham will be cancelled, while some other services will be short-formed and crowded. The Auroras, introduced after a three-year delay to replace the older class 222 fleet, have suffered reliability issues. Hitachi’s maintenance of the class 222 trains has also “significantly impacted upon EMR’s ability to run a consistent intercity service.” EMR managing director Will Rogers acknowledged the need to reduce
the timetable temporarily while working with Hitachi Rail to improve performance.
Strike Ballots Underway on LNER and Avanti West Coast
The train drivers’ union Aslef has called a strike ballot at London North Eastern Railway (LNER) starting 17 July 2026 after failure to secure a suitable pay offer. Drivers on Avanti West Coast are already voting on strike action over pay. Aslef did not renew a rest-day working agreement with Avanti West Coast, causing some cancellations. Aslef general secretary Dave Calfe said, “The company’s failure to make a suitable offer is unacceptable and that’s why we are balloting our members for industrial action.” Potential strikes on these north-south intercity
routes could begin by late August 2026.
Causes Behind Disruptions
EMR’s current disruptions stem from the underperformance of its new Auroras and ongoing maintenance issues with the class 222 trains they were meant to replace. These issues, combined with the Department for Transport’s refusal to sign off a pay deal agreed at LNER, have escalated labor tensions on the network. The DfT claimed it approved a fair and affordable deal but expressed frustration over the resulting disruption.
Impact on Passengers and Routes
Starting July 2026, Midland mainline passengers between London, Sheffield, and Nottingham face about 20 daily cancellations and shorter trains on remaining services, leading to overcrowding. The
potential strike actions on LNER and Avanti West Coast routes from late August 2026 could cause widespread delays and cancellations on major north-south intercity lines, significantly affecting summer travel.
Official Statements and Safety Investigations
Will Rogers, EMR 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 is “working closely with all industry partners … implementing improvements and supporting the transition.” Dave Calfe of Aslef attributed strike ballots to inadequate pay offers. A Department for Transport spokesperson confirmed
LNER received approval for a fair deal and urged constructive union engagement.
Separately, investigations continue into a fatal June 2026 crash near Bedford involving an EMR Aurora train that stopped on the mainline due to a fault with the automatic warning system and was struck by another train that passed a red signal.
