The RMT has announced 24-hour strikes on 1, 8 and 15 August affecting EMR Intercity and Connect services, with a reduced timetable running between 07:00 and 19:00 and roughly one train per hour on key routes from London St Pancras. Periods of 'action short of strike' are planned for early and mid-August and from 16 August until further notice, which may cause further short-notice changes. The dispute centres on alleged safety faults with the new Class 810 Aurora trains; EMR denies safety failings and says the fleet met regulator requirements. Hundreds of services were previously cancelled and EMR's managing director has resigned amid the disruption.
Major Weekend Disruption: RMT Announces August Strikes Affecting East Midlands Railway
The RMT says that it is open to further talks with East Midlands Railway (EMR)
East Midlands Railway (EMR) services look set to be disrupted across several weekends in August after the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) announced planned industrial action over safety concerns with new trains.
What Is Happening?
The RMT has declared 24-hour strike action on three consecutive Saturdays — 1, 8 and 15 August. EMR says it will operate a significantly reduced timetable on those days, running services only between 07:00 and 19:00 on its Intercity and Connect routes.
Passengers should expect roughly one train per hour on key routes from London St Pancras to destinations including Nottingham, Sheffield and Corby. EMR says regional services are unlikely to be affected and should run normally.
Action Short Of Strike
In addition to the three full strike days, the RMT has notified EMR of periods of 'action short of strike', when staff remain at work but may limit specific duties. These periods include:
- Sunday 2 to Friday 7 August (inclusive)
- Sunday 9 to Friday 14 August (inclusive)
- From Sunday 16 August until further notice
EMR warns that services could be altered or cancelled at short notice during these times.
Why The Dispute?
The dispute centres on EMR's new Class 810 'Aurora' fleet, built by Hitachi. The RMT alleges the trains have experienced multiple faults that it considers safety-critical, including loss of communication between drivers, dispatchers and trackside staff — problems the union says occurred 'at least three times in the last week alone'. The union says it asked EMR to withdraw the affected trains from service but that talks collapsed.
The RMT's general secretary, Eddie Dempsey, said the strikes will go ahead while remaining available for further talks.
Operator Response And Service Impact
EMR has previously reduced its Intercity timetable because of reliability and maintenance issues with the 810 fleet, which led to hundreds of cancellations on the Midland Main Line and a loss of roughly 20 fast services a day between London, Sheffield and Nottingham. EMR apologised to affected customers and said it is in constructive discussions with the RMT.
Philippa Cresswell, EMR's customer experience director, rejected suggestions the trains failed to meet safety standards, saying the Class 810 units entered passenger service only after completing required testing and meeting the independent regulator's safety requirements.
Amid the controversy, EMR's managing director, Will Rogers, stepped down from his role.
Advice For Passengers
- Only travel on strike days if your journey is essential.
- Check your journey status before travelling — timetables may be heavily reduced and subject to short-notice changes.
- Allow extra time or consider alternative travel arrangements where possible.
Note: The situation may evolve if talks between EMR and the RMT resume. Passengers should monitor official EMR and RMT updates for the latest information.
Help us improve.
