East Midlands Railway (EMR) announced train services will be significantly reduced on Saturdays 1, 8, and 15 August 2026 due to strike action by RMT union members. On each strike Saturday, services will run only between 07:00 and 19:00 on Intercity and Connect routes. EW will maintain an hourly train from Nottingham, Sheffield, and Corby to London St Pancras, while no rail replacement buses will be provided during strike days.
Strike and Industrial Action Schedule
RMT union members plan to strike on three Saturdays: 1, 8, and 15 August 2026. Additionally, members will conduct action short of strike between 2 to 7 August, 9 to
14 August, and from 16 August onward until further notice. On strike days, EMR services will be limited to the hours of 07:00 to 19:00 only. Regional rail services will not be impacted by this industrial action.
Cause of Dispute: Class 810 Aurora Safety Claims
The strike stems from safety concerns related to EMR’s introduction of the Class 810 Aurora trains. The RMT alleges the fleet has a significant number of faults that lead to safety-critical failures requiring a 20-minute reset process, called Aux Off / Aux On, during which safety systems and driver communication with signallers are temporarily disabled. An operational briefing reviewed by www.bbc.com confirmed this
reset process increases the risk of uncontrolled evacuation and loss of normal communication.
The dispute began in April 2026 and the RMT demands that trains be removed from service until these faults are resolved. EMR denies these claims, stating the Class 810 fleet passed all mandatory safety testing and complies with independent regulator standards.
Travel Impact and Service Changes
Passengers face cancellations and altered schedules on the strike Saturdays in August, with a strongly reduced timetable operating across the network’s Intercity and Connect routes between 07:00 and 19:00. EMR advises travelers to only undertake essential journeys on 1, 8, and 15 August. No rail replacement
buses will be made available during the industrial action. Importantly, regional services under EMR are excluded from the strikes and continue operating normally.
Statements from RMT and East Midlands Railway
Eddie Dempsey, RMT general secretary, stated union representatives had been “extremely patient” in seeking dialogue with management, but criticized the company for issuing safety notices without involving union reps representing those at risk. He said, “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.”
Philippa Cresswell, EMR customer experience director, apologized to customers disrupted by the industrial action and confirmed ongoing
constructive discussions with RMT to resolve the issue. She reinforced EMR’s position, saying, “Any suggestion that the trains do not meet the required safety standards is incorrect. The Class 810 fleet entered passenger service only after successfully completing all required testing and meeting the rigorous safety standards required by the independent regulator.”
