The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has announced three separate 24-hour strikes on East Midlands Railway (EMR) services for August 2026. The industrial action is in response to union safety concerns regarding the new Class 810 Aurora trains operated by EMR.
Strike and Action Dates Across EMR Network
The strikes are scheduled for Saturday 1, 8, and 15 August 2026. In addition to these full strike days, RMT members plan short-of-strike industrial actions from 2 to 7 August, 9 to 14 August, and from 16 August onward. These actions affect EMR’s service area covering London, Liverpool, Manchester, Derby, Nottingham, Norfolk, and Lincolnshire, including
key Intercity and Connect routes between Nottingham, Sheffield, Corby, and London St Pancras.
Service Reductions and Timetable Changes on Strike Days
On the three strike dates, EMR will operate a significantly reduced timetable running only between 07:00 and 19:00 on the Intercity and Connect lines. Service frequencies will be limited to one train per hour on routes connecting Nottingham, Sheffield, and Corby with London St Pancras. EMR has advised passengers to travel only if essential during these periods due to the severe reduction in train availability.
Union and Operator Positions on Class 810 Safety Issues
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey stated that EMR has continued to deploy Class 810 trains despite safety failures requiring full resets and
causing loss of communication among drivers, dispatchers, and trackside personnel. “EMR has been sending trains into service that are likely to fail and require a full reset which leaves the train with no active safety systems including loss of communication between train drivers, dispatchers, and trackside which has occurred at least three times in the last week alone,” he said. Dempsey added that talks had failed to persuade EMR to remove the faulty trains.
EMR Customer Experience Director Philippa Cresswell countered that the Class 810 fleet fully meets independent safety standards and entered passenger service only after completing all required
testing. She acknowledged ongoing performance and reliability challenges but denied any failure to maintain safety compliance. EMR is working with Hitachi Rail to improve the trains’ reliability.
Passenger Guidance and Ticket Policies During Strikes
Passengers on affected EMR routes are expected to face major disruptions on strike days with limited service hours and fewer trains running. No rail replacement buses will be provided during the strike periods, although unaffected regional services will continue operating. The National Rail website advises that customers experiencing cancellations or delays are entitled to refunds or may use valid tickets on alternative operators or routes.
Industry and Regulatory Context
These August 2026 strikes on EMR come amid
a year of relatively low nationwide rail industrial action across the UK. The Department for Transport has urged both the RMT and CrossCountry to urgently return to negotiations to resolve ongoing disputes. EMR’s managing director, Will Rogers, departed on July 27, 2026, a move described by union officials as indicative of the crisis at the operator. The Class 810 trains began passenger operations in December 2025 following rigorous independent safety testing before launch.
