Passengers using East Midlands Railway face further disruption after the Rail, Maritime and Transport union announced new strike dates as part of an ongoing dispute over alleged safety and reliability problems affecting the operator’s new Aurora trains.
The dispute between the RMT and East Midlands Railway (EMR) has continued since April, with the union raising concerns about faults reported on the Class 810 fleet. EMR maintains that no safety-critical faults have been identified that would prevent the trains from meeting regulatory requirements for passenger services.
Fresh strikes planned for August bank holiday and September
RMT members are set to strike over the August bank holiday weekend, with industrial action planned from 30 to 31 August. A further stoppage has also been announced for September.
The latest action follows three Saturday strikes during August and comes as union members continue action short of a strike, including refusing to work on Class 810 trains.
The Aurora fleet entered passenger service in December 2025 as part of EMR’s programme to modernise its Intercity operations.
RMT raises concerns over reported train faults
Ahead of the earlier August strikes, the RMT claimed that 16 trains in service had required “a full auxiliary reset, leaving trains with no active safety systems including loss of communication between train drivers, dispatchers and trackside”.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey has also highlighted problems including faulty toilets, broken air-conditioning systems, communication failures and door issues, alongside incidents in which trains have been stranded on the railway.
He said: “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.
“It is now time for EMR management to act on the safety concerns of our members.”
EMR has rejected suggestions that the trains are operating in breach of safety requirements, previously stating that “no safety-critical faults have been identified that prevent the trains from meeting regulatory requirements for passenger service”.
EMR working with Hitachi Rail to address concerns
EMR said on Friday that it had met RMT representatives six times for “constructive discussions” and was continuing to work with Hitachi Rail, the manufacturer of the Class 810 fleet, to address concerns raised about the trains.
Philippa Cresswell, EMR customer experience director, said: “We understand how important it is for our customers to have certainty about their travel plans and recognise the uncertainty and disruption this strike action will cause, particularly over the August bank holiday.
“Our teams are currently working through the detail of our service plan and assessing what services we will be able to operate on the affected days.”
The operator said its Regional services would not be affected by the industrial action.
Passengers advised to check services before travelling
The August industrial action is scheduled to run from 00:01 BST on 30 August until 23:59 on 31 August. Further action is planned for September, with passengers advised to check EMR’s published timetable and travel information before setting out.
The latest dispute follows operational difficulties involving the new fleet earlier in the summer. EMR reduced services in July because of “reliability issues” affecting the Class 810 trains.
Hitachi Rail previously said it had increased capacity for “modifications and testing” and was working with its partners to resolve the problems.
EMR has since announced plans to restore some cancelled Intercity services from the end of August, although the latest strike action could add further disruption during one of the busiest leisure travel periods of the summer.
Dispute continues as EMR works to improve reliability
The continuing disagreement places renewed pressure on EMR and Hitachi Rail to address concerns surrounding the Aurora fleet while maintaining services for passengers across the East Midlands and on Intercity routes.
With industrial action now extending into September, passengers are likely to face further uncertainty until the RMT and EMR reach an agreement over the operation and reliability of the Class 810 trains.
Edward Langley is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment and lifestyle. He focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current affairs and developing stories. His work highlights issues, trends and events that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance and accessible journalism.