The RMT union has announced plans for its members at East Midlands Railway (EMR) to take strike action on three consecutive Saturdays in August, threatening widespread disruption to passenger and potentially freight services across the East Midlands region. The union says the action is driven by "growing safety concerns the company has failed to address" since the rollout of the new Hitachi Class 810 (Aurora) fleet, according to a BBC report.
Dispute Background and Strike Dates
The RMT said it has been in dispute with EMR since April 2026 following the introduction of the 810 fleet, which it claims has been operating with a "significant number" of faults. The strike is scheduled for Saturday 1 August and the following two Saturdays — 8 August and 15 August — according to the union. The operator first introduced the Aurora trains into passenger service in December 2025, after what EMR said was a three-year delay.
Safety Concerns Raised by Union
According to the BBC, the RMT alleges that 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." The BBC has seen an operational briefing that informs control, signalling, and operations staff about undertaking an "Aux Off / Aux On" reset on EMR Class 810 units, which may be required to recover certain faults. The briefing states: "The process takes approximately 20 minutes and results in the temporary loss of several safety-critical systems, creating an increased risk of an uncontrolled evacuation and removing the driver's normal means of communication with the signaller."
Eddie Dempsey, RMT general secretary, said RMT reps at EMR had been "extremely patient" and tried to engage with management. "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, as reported by the BBC.
Operator and Manufacturer Response
An EMR spokesperson said any suggestion that the Hitachi Rail Class 810 fleet did not meet required safety standards was "incorrect" and added that EMR continues "to engage in discussions with RMT regarding this dispute." The spokesperson said the fleet entered passenger service after "successfully completing all required testing and meeting rigorous safety standards." However, EMR acknowledged "performance and reliability issues" with the 810s and said it is working with Hitachi Rail to resolve them as quickly as possible. Additionally, EMR outlined "challenges" with both the 810s and the older Class 222 trains, affecting toilets, air conditioning, and catering equipment. The Class 222s have also required "additional maintenance support to accommodate increased running and operational requirements."
Hitachi Rail issued a statement saying: "The Class 810 fleet has been in passenger service with East Midlands Railway since December 2025, and more than a third of the fleet has now been delivered. Hitachi Rail continues to work closely with all industry partners during the entry-into-service phase of the Class 810 fleet, implementing improvements and supporting the transition from the existing fleet to new Aurora trains." The company added that it is investing in additional testing activity at Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre to improve fleet introduction and delivery.
Strike Dates Overview
| Strike Day | Date |
|---|---|
| Saturday 1 | 1 August 2026 |
| Saturday 2 | 8 August 2026 |
| Saturday 3 | 15 August 2026 |
Implications for Logistics Operations
While the strike action directly impacts passenger services, logistics operators using rail freight corridors in the East Midlands should note that industrial action can lead to cascading delays on shared infrastructure. EMR operates passenger services on routes that also carry freight, including intermodal and bulk commodities. Although the source does not detail freight-specific effects, the disruption to rail schedules may reduce capacity for logistics movements if operators impose emergency timetables. Logistics managers relying on rail transport through the region should monitor the situation closely and consider alternative routing via road or other rail operators. The dispute highlights ongoing reliability challenges with new rolling stock, which could affect long-term rail freight partnerships if passenger operators struggle to maintain service.
