The RMT union has announced strike action on Saturday, 1 August, Saturday, 8 August and Saturday, 15 August 2026.
- Members from the RMT union will strike on Saturday 1, 8 and 15 August.
- EMR we will be operating a significantly reduced timetable between 07:00 and 19:00 on its Intercity and Connect routes.
- In addition to strike action, the RMT has also notified EMR that members will be taking Action Short of Strike (ASOS), from Sunday 2 to Friday 7 August (inclusive), Sunday 9 to Friday 14 August (inclusive) and from Sunday 16 August until further notice. Trains may be subject to short notice alterations and cancellations.
- Customers are advised to only travel if their journey is essential and to check their full journey, including first and last trains, before travelling on these dates.
- Regional services are not affected.
- No rail replacement buses will be available.
Customers are advised to only travel if their journey is essential and to check their full journey, including first and last trains, before travelling on these dates.
In addition to strike action, the RMT has also notified EMR that members will be taking Action Short of Strike (ASOS), from Sunday 2 to Friday 7 August (inclusive), Sunday 9 to Friday 14 August (inclusive) and from Sunday 16 August until further notice. Trains may be subject to short notice alterations and cancellations. Please check before you travel.
Philippa Cresswell, Customer Experience Director at East Midlands Railway, said: “We’re sorry to customers whose journeys will be affected by this industrial action.
“We know the disruption this will cause and are advising customers to only travel if their journey is essential on Saturday 1, 8 and 15 August, as we will be operating a significantly reduced timetable between 07:00 and 19:00.
“EMR continues to engage in constructive discussions with the RMT in the hope of resolving this dispute as quickly as possible.
“The dispute relates to concerns raised about the introduction of our new Class 810 Aurora fleet. 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.”
Saturday 1 August
Customers are advised to only travel if their journey is essential.
EMR Intercity
- Services will operate between 07:00 and 19:00 only
- One train per hour between Nottingham and London St Pancras
- One train per hour between Sheffield and London St Pancras
EMR Connect
- Services will operate between 07:00 and 19:00 only.
- One train per hour between Corby and London St Pancras
EMR Regional
- Regional services are unaffected by the strike action and will operate as normal
Customers are advised to check their full journey before travelling.
Customers should also note that a significantly reduced service will operate on the West Midlands Railway network on Friday 31 July and Saturday 1 August due to separate strike action by members of the TSSA union. Customers travelling on those dates are advised to check their full journey before travelling.
Saturday 8 August
Customers are advised to only travel if their journey is essential
EMR Intercity
- Services will operate between 07:00 and 19:00 only
- One train per hour between Nottingham and London St Pancras
- One train per hour between Sheffield and London St Pancras
EMR Connect
- Services will operate between 07:00 and 19:00 only
- One train per hour between Corby and London St Pancras
EMR Regional
- Regional services are unaffected by the strike action and will operate as normal
- No rail replacement bus services will be provided
- Customers are advised to check their full journey before travelling
Saturday 15 August
Customers are advised to only travel if their journey is essential
EMR Intercity
- Services will operate between 07:00 and 19:00 only
- One train per hour between Nottingham and London St Pancras
- One train per hour between Sheffield and London St Pancras
EMR Connect
- Services will operate between 07:00 and 19:00 only
- One train per hour between Corby and London St Pancras
EMR Regional
- Regional services are unaffected by the strike action and will operate as normal
RMT said:
‘RMT members working at East Midlands Railway (EMR) plan to take strike action on Saturday, August 1, and the following two Saturdays over growing safety concerns that the company has failed to address.
‘RMT has been in dispute with EMR since April following the roll out of the 810 fleet which has been operating with a significant number of faults.
‘Yet EMR has been sending trains into service that are likely to fail and require a full reset which leaves the train with no active safety systems including loss of communication between train drivers, dispatchers, and trackside which has occurred at least three times in the last week alone.
‘RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that RMT reps at EMR had been extremely patient and tried to engage with management to no avail.’
“The company has even put out safety notices with no involvement, consultation or negotiation with our reps who represent those most at risk.
“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,” he said.
