East Midlands Railway (EMR) will reinstate some cancelled Intercity services from 31 August 2026, increasing its Intercity operations from 87% to 92% of the full planned timetable.
Since 20 July 2026, EMR had operated a reduced timetable due to reliability issues with its new Aurora Class 810 trains, introduced in December 2025 after a three-year delay. The cut aimed to match available rolling stock and improve service consistency.
The reinstatement includes five weekday and three weekend services on the Sheffield route, and three weekday and one weekend service on the Nottingham route, both along the Midland Main Line.
Neil Grabham,
EMR’s interim managing director, said the July reduction was a difficult but necessary step to ensure a consistent and reliable service amid fleet challenges. He described recent operational stability as an important milestone, while noting ongoing work with Hitachi Rail, Rock Rail, and other partners.
Both the new Class 810 and older Class 222 fleets faced maintenance challenges, including faults affecting toilets, air conditioning, and catering equipment. EMR and Hitachi Rail have an agreed action plan, increasing maintenance on Class 222 trains and conducting modifications and testing on Class 810 units at Long Marston Innovation Centre.
The RMT union took
strike action on 1 and 8 August 2026, citing safety concerns over faults requiring resets on Class 810 units that temporarily deactivate safety systems. EMR has denied the Class 810 trains fail to meet safety standards.
Restored services from late August are expected to reduce short-notice cancellations and improve reliability on Sheffield and Nottingham routes, enhancing Midland Main Line travel options.
A Hitachi Rail spokesperson said: “As part of the plan, we have increased maintenance activity on the Class 222 fleet, while also working with our supply chain to improve the availability of materials and components.” They added: “We have
invested in additional capacity at Long Marston Innovation Centre to conduct modifications and testing on the Class 810s to support the transition from older to newer trains.” They apologized to passengers for the inconvenience caused and affirmed ongoing efforts with EMR and partners to deliver improvements.
