UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described East Midlands Railway (EMR) services as “unacceptable” during a visit to Derby on 14 October 2026, ahead of the operator’s scheduled renationalisation in March 2027. She issued an apology for the disruption faced by passengers, stating the company must improve service quality before public ownership transfer.
Disruptions caused by Aurora (Class 810) fleet issues and strikes
EMR introduced its Aurora (Class 810) fleet, manufactured by Hitachi Rail, in December 2025. Since then, the new trains have suffered performance and maintenance problems, leading to months of delays, cancellations, and overcrowding on Intercity routes serving London St Pancras station. The issues triggered calls for strike action
by the RMT union in July 2026 and planned 24-hour walkouts for 16 and 17 September 2026, which were cancelled after talks between EMR and union representatives. Despite the cancellation, RMT members continue “action short of strike,” causing potential short-notice service alterations and cancellations.
Service timetable changes and restoration plans
As a result of reliability problems with the Aurora trains and maintenance challenges with the existing Class 222 fleet, EMR temporarily cut its Intercity timetable to 87% in July 2026. This reduction led to service cancellations and fewer carriages per train, exacerbating delays and overcrowding. By 1 September 2026, service levels rose to 92% of the
planned Intercity timetable, supported by improved operational stability. EMR plans to further increase service frequency to 96% from 19 October 2026.
Government rail policy and renationalisation timeline
The UK government has committed to renationalising EMR, with the process authorized to begin after Sunday, 18 October 2026—the core term expiry date allowing contract termination without penalty. The full transfer to public ownership is scheduled for March 2027. This initiative aligns with a broader policy to bring passenger rail services under Great British Railways (GBR), which recently announced Derby as its headquarters location. Other rail operators already nationalized include Great Anglia and South Western Railway, with Avanti West
Coast services also set for renationalisation starting March 2027. The government expects this policy to save approximately £150 million annually by ending private sector operator payments.
Official statements on service standards and expectations
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander acknowledged the difficulties customers faced during summer 2026, stating, “I recognise people have received an unacceptable service this summer and I apologise for that. It’s not good enough.” She added, “So we’ve been clear with East Midlands Railways that, prior to that private company coming into public ownership next year, they have to improve the quality of the service that people are receiving.” Alexander also cautioned that renationalisation “is not
going to be a silver bullet that transforms things overnight” due to the need for infrastructure investment and reliable trains.
An EMR spokesperson attributed the reduced timetable to a three-year delay in new train deliveries and the performance issues of the Class 810 fleet. They confirmed the Intercity timetable reached 92% in September and will increase to 96% by 19 October. The spokesperson said, “We are continuing to work closely with Hitachi Rail, a world-renowned manufacturer and maintainer, and the DfT operator to identify the steps needed to support further increases to the timetable.” They apologized for customer disruption and
pledged to restore full service levels as soon as possible.
Ongoing challenges amid transition preparations
Despite service improvements, persistent issues remain, including driver and staff shortages, which contribute to delays and cancellations. The RMT union’s continuing “action short of strike” reflects ongoing labor tensions affecting service reliability. EMR has not received formal notification from the Department for Transport regarding the precise date for transfer into public ownership. Passengers can expect continued timetable adjustments during this transition period leading up to the March 2027 renationalisation.
