The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has announced new strike actions against East Midlands Railway (EMR) due to ongoing safety concerns with the Aurora (Class 810) train fleet that entered service in December 2025. The dispute, rooted in faults affecting train operations, began in April 2026 following the rollout of the new fleet across the EMR network in the United Kingdom.
Safety Issues Prompting Union Action
The RMT union claims that 16 Aurora trains currently in service require a full auxiliary reset before operation, during which safety systems are inactive, including loss of communication between train drivers, dispatchers, and trackside infrastructure. Other reported faults
include malfunctioning toilets, broken air conditioning units, door failures, and cases of trains becoming stranded on the tracks. The union demands that any trains exhibiting faults be taken out of service until fully operational.
Details of Planned Strike Action
Following three Saturday strikes in August 2026, the union plans a 48-hour strike running from 00:01 BST on 30 August until 23:59 on 31 August 2026, coinciding with the August bank holiday weekend. A further 24-hour strike is scheduled for 16 September 2026, from 00:01 to 23:59 BST. Prior to these strikes, RMT members have engaged in work-to-rule tactics, including refusing to operate Class 810 trains.
EMR’s Position and Efforts to Resolve Issues
East Midlands Railway states no safety-critical faults have been identified that prevent trains from meeting regulatory requirements for passenger services. EMR has held six meetings with union representatives and is collaborating with Hitachi Rail, the manufacturer responsible for modifications and testing, to resolve the reported faults. EMR acknowledges past reliability challenges, which led to service reductions in July 2026, but plans to reinstate some cancelled Intercity services by the end of August.
Impact on Services and Official Statements
The strike action will not affect EMR’s Regional services, which will continue operating as scheduled. EMR is currently assessing service levels for the strike days, particularly during the
bank holiday weekend, and communicating plans with customers. Philippa Cresswell, EMR’s customer experience director, said, “We understand how important it is for our customers to have certainty about their travel plans and recognise the uncertainty and disruption this strike action will cause, particularly over the August bank holiday.” RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey stated, “It is now time for EMR management to act on the safety concerns of our members.” He also emphasized the union’s position: “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.”
