Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at East Midlands Railway (EMR) will hold a strike on Sunday 30 and Monday 31 August 2026, coinciding with the UK bank holiday weekend. The strike will affect train services operated by EMR and coincide with Network Rail signalling upgrades impacting London North Eastern Railway (LNER) services.
Service Reductions and Infrastructure Upgrades
East Midlands Railway will run a significantly reduced timetable to and from London St Pancras on the strike days. Network Rail is carrying out digital signalling upgrades between London King’s Cross and Peterborough on Sunday 30 August, resulting in no LNER trains running on
this route that day.
Routes Affected and Expected Station Crowding
No LNER trains will operate between London King’s Cross and Peterborough on Sunday due to the signalling work. EMR services to and from London St Pancras are expected to be extremely busy across the bank holiday weekend. Sheffield and Nottingham stations are projected to experience heavy passenger traffic and long queues as demand rises amid reduced service levels.
Dispute Background and Safety Concerns
The strike is prompted by RMT safety concerns over unresolved faults on EMR’s Class 810 trains. The faults cited include malfunctioning air conditioning, door issues, and non-operational toilets. RMT members have been directed to refuse working these trains
until the problems are addressed. EMR and RMT have met six times in negotiations without reaching a resolution.
Official Statements and Travel Advice
Philippa Cresswell, EMR’s Customer Experience Director, apologized for the disruption and urged passengers to travel only if their journey to or from London is essential on the strike days: “We strongly advise customers to only travel to or from London if their journey is essential on Sunday 30 and Monday August 31, and to check their full journey, including first and last trains, before setting out.”
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey called for immediate action on safety concerns, stating: “RMT is demanding
that whilst these faults exist and until these trains are shown to be operating properly, they should be taken out of service. It is now time for EMR management to act on the safety concerns of our members.”
The ongoing dispute and signalling upgrades will cause widespread cancellations and travel delays during the August bank holiday weekend. Passengers are advised to prepare for disrupted schedules and crowded conditions, especially at Sheffield and Nottingham stations.
Additional Context: Events and Weather
The disruption overlaps with major UK events over the bank holiday weekend, including the Reading and Leeds festivals and London’s Notting Hill Carnival. The Met Office
forecasts a transition from summer sunshine to unsettled weather, with potential heavy rain, thunderstorms, and localized flooding likely to complicate travel during the holiday period.
