Customers are being reminded that the RMT union has announced strike action on Saturday, 15 August.
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.
On Saturday EMR, which is operated by Transport UK, will operate a significantly reduced timetable starting at 07:00 and finishing before 19:00 on its Intercity and Connect routes.
To help maximise the number of seats available during the strike, EMR will temporarily declassify First Class on its Intercity services, allowing all customers to use the full seating capacity of each train. This temporary measure will apply only while the strike timetable is in operation.
First Class customers who already have tickets or are Season Ticket holders are asked to contact EMR’s Customer Service Centre for details on how to claim a refund.
Customers who purchased their tickets from another retailer should contact them directly.
In addition to strike action, the RMT has also notified EMR that members will be taking Action Short of Strike (ASOS), from 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.
There will also be an amended timetable on the Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich route with trains not calling at Alfreton, Langley Mill or Ilkeston and there will be a significantly reduced service for Sheffield. Passengers for these stations can use Northern replacement buses at no extra cost.
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, 15 August, as we will be operating a significantly reduced timetable starting at 07:00 and finishing before 19:00.
“To help as many customers as possible during this period, we will temporarily declassify First Class on our Intercity services so that everyone can make use of the full seating capacity available.
“This is a temporary measure for the duration of the strike timetable only, after which our usual First Class arrangements will resume.
“We remain fully committed to offering a high-quality experience to those customers travelling with us.
“EMR continues to engage in constructive discussions with the RMT with a focus on resolving this dispute as quickly as possible.”
Saturday 15 August
Customers are advised to only travel if their journey is essential.
EMR Intercity
• Services will operate between 07:00 and before 19:00.
• One train per hour between Nottingham and London St Pancras.
• One train per hour between Sheffield and London St Pancras.
• First Class accommodation will be temporarily declassified to maximise seating capacity for all customers.
EMR Connect
• Services will operate between 07:00 and before 19:00.
• One train per hour between Corby and London St Pancras.
EMR Regional
• The majority of regional services are unaffected by the strike action and will operate as normal. However, there will also be an amended timetable on the Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich route with trains not calling at Alfreton, Langley Mill or Ilkeston and there will be a significantly reduced service for Sheffield. Passengers for these stations can use Northern replacement buses at no extra cost.
