East Midlands Railway (EMR) announced on July 17, 2026, that it would reduce train services indefinitely due to operational problems with its new Class 810 Aurora trains, which were introduced in December 2025 after a three-year delay.
Service Changes on Intercity Routes
The service reductions primarily affect Intercity routes between London St Pancras and the cities of Leicester, Nottingham, Lincoln, Derby, and Sheffield. EMR has cancelled some trains outright and is running other services with fewer carriages.
Fleet Reliability and Manufacturer Response
According to Will Rogers, Managing Director of East Midlands Railway, the performance of the Class 810 fleet has “fallen below the levels we and our customers expect,” with
persistent reliability and maintenance issues involving both the new Class 810 and existing Class 222 fleets. Hitachi Rail, manufacturer of the Aurora trains, has delivered more than one-third of the Class 810 fleet. The rollout continues in a controlled manner through 2026 and 2027, with Hitachi working closely with EMR to resolve issues.
Passenger Impact and Ticket Flexibility
Passengers affected by cancellations may travel on a train up to two services before or after their booked train or request a full refund if they decide not to travel. These service disruptions have caused frustration among customers over inconsistent Intercity service reliability.
Official Statements and Industry Reactions
EMR confirmed the Class
810 trains met all required safety standards following testing and regulatory approvals. An EMR spokesperson stated the introduction aimed to provide “a smooth transition from the Class 222 fleet, with a significant period where both fleets would operate alongside one another under the maintenance of Hitachi Rail.” EMR apologized for disruptions and committed to restoring reliable service.
Will Rogers said, “We recognise that this will be disappointing for customers, and we understand the frustration caused when our Intercity services do not consistently meet the standards they rightly expect, which in turn puts our front-line staff in an unenviable position of
trying to deliver excellent customer service amidst ongoing reliability challenges.”
Rail passenger group Railfuture described the reductions as a backward step for service quality, while Harborough MP Neil O’Brien said, “This is the latest nightmare for people who use EMR. It’s a total mess and it has been a mess for months.”
A Hitachi Rail representative noted, “The Class 810 fleet has been in passenger service with East Midlands Railway since December 2025 and more than a third of the fleet has now been delivered,” adding that the company is investing in additional testing to support the fleet introduction and
ongoing deliveries.
