Intercity rail passengers across Great Britain face cancellations and industrial action this summer on the three main north-south routes, disrupting travel on key lines linking London with northern cities and Scotland.
East Midlands Railway Service Cuts and Train Reliability Issues
East Midlands Railway (EMR) will withdraw about 20 fast trains daily from the Midland mainline service between London, Sheffield, and Nottingham during summer 2026 due to ongoing performance problems with its new class 810 Auroras. The operator also plans to run some trains with fewer carriages, which is expected to cause crowding.
EMR attributes cancellations to both the class 810 fleet’s “performance and reliability issues” and inadequate maintenance of
the older class 222 trains by Hitachi Rail. EMR stated these maintenance shortcomings have “significantly impacted upon EMR’s ability to run a consistent intercity service.”
Strike Ballots on LNER and Avanti West Coast
The drivers’ union Aslef has initiated a strike ballot on London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), which operates the route between London and Scotland, following the collapse of pay negotiations. The ballot was called on Friday, 17 July 2026.
Train drivers at Avanti West Coast are also voting on strike action over pay, with Aslef having suspended a rest-day working agreement, resulting in some service cancellations. This vote was announced two weeks prior to the
LNER ballot.
Official Statements on Disruptions and Labour Disputes
EMR managing director Will Rogers apologized to customers for the “significant disruption and inconvenience” caused by train issues. He confirmed a reduced timetable is necessary while EMR works with Hitachi Rail to improve service reliability.
A Hitachi Rail spokesperson said the company is “working closely with all industry partners … implementing improvements and supporting the transition.”
Aslef general secretary Dave Calfe said, “The company’s failure to make a suitable offer is unacceptable and that’s why we are balloting our members for industrial action.” The union claims the Department for Transport (DfT) refused to approve a pay deal reached at LNER.
A DfT spokesperson responded that it had granted approval for a fair and affordable pay deal at LNER and
encouraged the union to engage constructively.
Bedford Rail Crash Investigation
Authorities continue probing last month’s fatal Bedford rail crash involving EMR’s class 810 Aurora trains. One train stopped on the mainline due to an automatic warning system fault and was subsequently struck by another train that passed a red signal, causing fatalities.
The incident has heightened safety concerns amid ongoing reliability issues with the new trains on the Midland mainline.
Passengers on the affected mainlines should anticipate widespread cancellations, short-formed trains, and crowding during the summer months. Pending industrial action on LNER and Avanti West Coast poses further risks of delays and service interruptions.
