East Midlands Railway (EMR) is cancelling around 20 fast intercity services each day this summer on the Midland mainline between London, Sheffield, and Nottingham due to ongoing performance problems with its fleet of Hitachi class 810 bi-mode trains, known as Auroras. Additional EMR services will run with fewer carriages, increasing the likelihood of overcrowding, the operator confirmed.
Strike Ballots Called on LNER and Avanti West Coast
The train drivers’ union Aslef has initiated a strike ballot for workers on London to Scotland services operated by LNER after pay negotiations collapsed. Drivers at Avanti West Coast, another major north-south route, are also voting on industrial action in response to pay
disputes. Aslef’s failure to renew a rest-day working agreement at Avanti has already resulted in some train cancellations.
Class 810 Aurora Trains and Bedford Crash Background
The class 810 Auroras entered service in 2026 after a three-year delay. EMR attributes its service cuts to “performance and reliability issues” with these new bi-mode trains, which run on diesel and electricity. The operator has also criticized Hitachi Rail for the maintenance of the older class 222 fleet that Auroras replaced, saying this has “significantly impacted EMR’s ability to run a consistent intercity service.” Investigations continue into a June/July 2026 rail crash at Bedford, where an Aurora train stopped on the
mainline due to an automatic warning system fault prior to being hit by another train that had passed a red signal.
Official Statements from EMR, Aslef, Hitachi, and Department for Transport
Will Rogers, EMR managing director, said: “The performance of the class 810 fleet has fallen below the levels we and our customers expect, and it is necessary to introduce a temporary reduced timetable while we work with the manufacturer, Hitachi Rail, to improve consistency in service.” He added, “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.”
General secretary of Aslef,
Dave Calfe, stated: “The company’s failure to make a suitable offer is unacceptable and that’s why we are balloting our members for industrial action.”
A Hitachi Rail spokesperson said the company is working closely with industry partners “implementing improvements and supporting the transition.” A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesperson said: “We have given LNER approval for a fair and affordable deal. We know how frustrating disruption can be for passengers and strongly encourage the union to continue engaging constructively with LNER to reach a solution.” Aslef criticized the DfT for refusing to approve the pay deal at LNER.
Passenger Impact from Service Cancellations and Potential Strikes
Passengers on
the Midland mainline face cancellations of about 20 fast trains daily during summer 2026. Many other EMR trains will be shorter than normal, leading to increased crowding. The ongoing strike ballots on LNER and Avanti West Coast routes raise the prospect of further delays and cancellations on two other major north-south mainlines. Combined, these disruptions affect hundreds of intercity services across Great Britain’s primary rail corridors.
