East Midlands railways industrial action

[Transport101]

EMR drivers striking over reliability issues with their trains

Train Strike information | EMR

Strike action affects trains to/from London St Pancras on Saturday 8 August and Saturday 15 August 2026.

www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk

EMR said
The RMT union has announced strike action on Saturday 8 August and Saturday 15 August 2026. There will be a significantly reduced train service to/from London St Pancras with trains starting after 07:00 and finishing before 19:00 only. We advise you to check your full journey, including first and last trains, before travelling on these dates.

Please continue to check the EMR website, information at stations and social media for the latest advice and information.

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.

Declassification of First Class during strike days​

To help maximise the number of seats available during the strike days, 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.

 

[Jan Mayen]

A friend is moving to Nottingham from London. I'd like to go and visit. Can I go via Grantham?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

A friend is moving to Nottingham from London. I'd like to go and visit. Can I go via Grantham?

There are Super Off Peak single fares available, routed via Grantham. Need one each way. Time restrictions apply, however.

 

[duffield]

A friend is moving to Nottingham from London. I'd like to go and visit. Can I go via Grantham?

Connections at Grantham are pretty good, although it's only once per hour. It nearly always works out and barely takes any longer than the direct trains.
Typically it's the xx33 Newcastle train from Kings Cross to get to Nottingham and the xx38 Norwich train from Nottingham coming back. Connection time is around 10 minutes, which is plenty for Grantham.

I've been going this way more and more often as the Midland Mainline service has deteriorated.

One slight thing to watch out for is that going northbound at Grantham you'll be joining the train from Skegness to Nottingham which can be hell on earth at some times during the school holidays. If you don't like the look of it you can stay on the platform at Grantham for about 15 minutes and get the Norwich to Liverpool train to Nottingham instead if your ticket allows, you only arrive at Nottingham 10 minutes later.

 

[Hairy Bear]

EMR drivers striking over reliability issues with their trains

Train Strike information | EMR

Strike action affects trains to/from London St Pancras on Saturday 8 August and Saturday 15 August 2026.

www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk

EMR said
The RMT union has announced strike action on Saturday 8 August and Saturday 15 August 2026.

Can I point out that it's the Train Managers and on board staff that are taking part in the strike action, not the drivers.
They are in a different union called Aslef and are not in dispute withe the company.

 

[Transport101]

Can I point out that it's the Train Managers and on board staff that are taking part in the strike action, not the drivers.
They are in a different union called Aslef and are not in dispute withe the company.

Oh my apologies must of read it wrong

 

[Teapot42]

A friend is moving to Nottingham from London. I'd like to go and visit. Can I go via Grantham?

The EMR reduced timetable page suggests you can go via Grantham on an EMR ticket, but only if the train you were planning to use is one of those cancelled. Quite how this would be enforced I don't know!

 

[sad1e]

Whatever is going on with this New EMR reduced timetable they're getting Very desperate for Rolling stock.

Train 1B85 Nottingham to St Pancras International Tue 04/08/2026 | Rail Record

Live Train Times for Train 1B85 Nottingham to St Pancras International departing on Tue 04/08/2026 | Rail Record

live.rail-record.co.uk

Train 1F80 St Pancras International to Sheffield Tue 04/08/2026 | Rail Record

Live Train Times for Train 1F80 St Pancras International to Sheffield departing on Tue 04/08/2026 | Rail Record

live.rail-record.co.uk

158846 booked from Nottingham down to St Pancras and back. First time this has happened in a very long while.

 

[86246]

Whatever is going on with this New EMR reduced timetable they're getting Very desperate for Rolling stock.

Train 1B85 Nottingham to St Pancras International Tue 04/08/2026 | Rail Record

Live Train Times for Train 1B85 Nottingham to St Pancras International departing on Tue 04/08/2026 | Rail Record

live.rail-record.co.uk

Train 1F80 St Pancras International to Sheffield Tue 04/08/2026 | Rail Record

Live Train Times for Train 1F80 St Pancras International to Sheffield departing on Tue 04/08/2026 | Rail Record

live.rail-record.co.uk

158846 booked from Nottingham down to St Pancras and back. First time this has happened in a very long while.

Now updated to 222018.

 

[LCC106]

Am I missing something? It’s a meridian, not a 158. Edited to say I obviously have missed something.

 

[sad1e]

Am I missing something? It’s a meridian, not a 158. Edited to say I obviously have missed something.

It was allocated a 158 but had it's allocations changed back to 222018.

 

[Kite159]

I guess if things seriously got bad for unit shortages they could use a 158 or 170 between Leicester & Sheffield (or Nottingham), depending on if the crew signs the traction etc.

As for Nottingham, then going via Grantham is a reasonable route, likewise for Sheffield going via Doncaster can also be a rival time wise if the connection at Doncaster works out.

 

[Qwerty133]

View attachment 208890
It was allocated a 158 but had its allocations changed back to 222018.

I would suspect human error in control updating the wrong service rather than a plan to run a 158 to St Pancras. Whilst it would be theoretically possible it would almost certainly require preplanning as the mainline crews will not be cleared on 158s.

 

[High Dyke]

158846 booked from Nottingham down to St Pancras and back. First time this has happened in a very long while.

And it used to be bad enough being wedged in a 170 to London during the Midland Main Line era.

 

[whoosh]

Can I point out that it's the Train Managers and on board staff that are taking part in the strike action, not the drivers.
They are in a different union called Aslef and are not in dispute withe the company.

You are quite correct in stating it's Train Managers and On Board staff that are taking industrial action due to class 810s 'not being fit for purpose'.

One of the issues is that the push bar exit on the driving cab door to the saloon has had occasions of failure. My understanding is that the Train Managers dispatch from the rear cab at St Pancras, and there have been instances of them being stuck in the rear cab as the door lock of the cab door to saloon (cab to the rest of the train) has broken.

I am therefore surprised that there hasn't been more of a 'kicking off' from ASLEF over this, as if the locks have a history of being unreliable and happen not to function, there is no emergency exit from the cab apart from externally onto what might very well be an adjacent running line with high speed trains passing over. (That's if the train has stopped of course. What if there is to be an imminent collision with a tractor at a User Worked Crossing?)


I will just point out (I have mentioned it before somewhere on the forum), that Hitachi bought out Ansaldobreda, and that class 810s have a great deal of Hitachi (Ansaldobreda) input...

...and that Ansaldobreda infamously had to to buy back the 'Fyra' trains it sold to the Dutch railways because they were so unreliable...
Or in other words: 'not being fit for purpose'.


Some will say it's the RMT union taking advantage of 'teething troubles' to further some left-wing militant cause. But I would point out that the people striking have likely had enough of striking as they lost quite a bit of money doing so a couple of years ago in a prolonged dispute instigated by the government of the time, and are actually fairly beaten down because of it. They must therefore, feel very strongly indeed that the current situation with 810s is so far removed from 'normal teething troubles' as to take action.

 

[Dieseldriver]

One of the issues is that the push bar exit on the driving cab door to the saloon has had occasions of failure. My understanding is that the Train Managers dispatch from the rear cab at St Pancras, and there have been instances of them being stuck in the rear cab as the door lock of the cab door to saloon (cab to the rest of the train) has broken.

That alone is extremely worrying indeed

 

[43096]

I will just point out (I have mentioned it before somewhere on the forum), that Hitachi bought out Ansaldobreda, and that class 810s have a great deal of Hitachi (Ansaldobreda) input...

...and that Ansaldobreda infamously had to to buy back the 'Fyra' trains it sold to the Dutch railways because they were so unreliable...
Or in other words: 'not being fit for purpose'.

One of those Fyra trains was famously daubed with graffiti while sat on Watergraafsmeer depot: “Their food may be good but… don’t buy trains from Italy”.

 

[45Fox]

Saturday 15th. August might get interesting.
It's the first weekend of the season's English Football League fixtures, in League One Leicester City are away at Notts County, albeit a 12.30 kick off.

 

[DerbySplitter]

Saturday 15th. August might get interesting.
It's the first weekend of the season's English Football League fixtures, in League One Leicester City are away at Notts County, albeit a 12.30 kick off.

Derby away at Charlton.
Sheff Wed away at Leyton Orient.

MML would be very busy normally.

The Tamworth to Euston route will be extra busy as a result. The last train back too is a ridiculously early 20.35.

 

[45Fox]

Derby away at Charlton.
Sheff Wed away at Leyton Orient.

MML would be very busy normally.

The Tamworth to Euston route will be extra busy as a result. The last train back too is a ridiculously early 20.35.

Maybe the Wednesday supporters will go via the ECML? (Doncaster or Worksop).
Definitely via Tamworth for the Derby supporters.

 

[Farigiraf]

You are quite correct in stating it's Train Managers and On Board staff that are taking industrial action due to class 810s 'not being fit for purpose'.

One of the issues is that the push bar exit on the driving cab door to the saloon has had occasions of failure. My understanding is that the Train Managers dispatch from the rear cab at St Pancras, and there have been instances of them being stuck in the rear cab as the door lock of the cab door to saloon (cab to the rest of the train) has broken.

I am therefore surprised that there hasn't been more of a 'kicking off' from ASLEF over this, as if the locks have a history of being unreliable and happen not to function, there is no emergency exit from the cab apart from externally onto what might very well be an adjacent running line with high speed trains passing over. (That's if the train has stopped of course. What if there is to be an imminent collision with a tractor at a User Worked Crossing?)


I will just point out (I have mentioned it before somewhere on the forum), that Hitachi bought out Ansaldobreda, and that class 810s have a great deal of Hitachi (Ansaldobreda) input...

...and that Ansaldobreda infamously had to to buy back the 'Fyra' trains it sold to the Dutch railways because they were so unreliable...
Or in other words: 'not being fit for purpose'.


Some will say it's the RMT union taking advantage of 'teething troubles' to further some left-wing militant cause. But I would point out that the people striking have likely had enough of striking as they lost quite a bit of money doing so a couple of years ago in a prolonged dispute instigated by the government of the time, and are actually fairly beaten down because of it. They must therefore, feel very strongly indeed that the current situation with 810s is so far removed from 'normal teething troubles' as to take action.

Might this be the final straw for the Newton Aycliffe factory? The crack issue back in 2021 was the first sign, and although the 810s were meant to be an improved, more reliably designed IET, we're seeing how much that's actually true. Although I doubt the fact that one of the trains involved was an 810 factored in much, the Bedford crash can't have helped morale and general attitude towards the new fleet among the drivers either. I'd be really surprised if Hitachi get any more DfT-backed train orders for the forseeable future, as if you want quality, don't even bother, and if you want something cheap, CAF always has something on offer.

The issue is that Newton Aycliffe isn't exactly a place with a surplus of jobs on offer - it could do with as many as it can get - so if it were up to me I'd probably be looking at some other project to centre in the town instead, rather than letting the factory close with no replacement.

 

[Merle Haggard]

Might this be the final straw for the Newton Aycliffe factory? The crack issue back in 2021 was the first sign, and although the 810s were meant to be an improved, more reliably designed IET, we're seeing how much that's actually true. Although I doubt the fact that one of the trains involved was an 810 factored in much, the Bedford crash can't have helped morale and general attitude towards the new fleet among the drivers either. I'd be really surprised if Hitachi get any more DfT-backed train orders for the forseeable future, as if you want quality, don't even bother, and if you want something cheap, CAF always has something on offer.

I have been led to believe that the rules for competitive tendering* do not allow previous performance (or lack of it!) to be taken into account.
This has been stated as the reason for Fujitso continuing to benefit from new Government contracts.
Other members of the Forum may know more.


*Possibly laid down by the EU but continuing to apply in the UK by post Brexit legislation.

 

[Spartacus]

Might this be the final straw for the Newton Aycliffe factory? The crack issue back in 2021 was the first sign, and although the 810s were meant to be an improved, more reliably designed IET, we're seeing how much that's actually true. Although I doubt the fact that one of the trains involved was an 810 factored in much, the Bedford crash can't have helped morale and general attitude towards the new fleet among the drivers either. I'd be really surprised if Hitachi get any more DfT-backed train orders for the forseeable future, as if you want quality, don't even bother, and if you want something cheap, CAF always has something on offer.

The issue is that Newton Aycliffe isn't exactly a place with a surplus of jobs on offer - it could do with as many as it can get - so if it were up to me I'd probably be looking at some other project to centre in the town instead, rather than letting the factory close with no replacement.

I reckon the wiring issues at Newton Aycliffe will have done more reputational damage than the cracks. That could be put on design, the wiring's just down to bad practices resulting in unit not being built to spec.

 

[43096]

I have been led to believe that the rules for competitive tendering* do not allow previous performance (or lack of it!) to be taken into account.
This has been stated as the reason for Fujitso continuing to benefit from new Government contracts.
Other members of the Forum may know more.


*Possibly laid down by the EU but continuing to apply in the UK by post Brexit legislation.

I don't believe that: you specify it as a criteria of the tender evaluation.

As an example, back in 2016/17 DSB tendered for new locos: DSB specified that it should be of a standard design that has proven itself in service. One bidder (Bombardier) dropped out, leaving Siemens and Skoda. Skoda had delivered 28 locos of its "standard design", while Siemens had delivered around 500 Vectrons at that point. Given the tender criteria, it was not really surprising that Siemens won the contract.

 

[Geoff_K]

I'm travelling from St Pancras to Derby on Friday 4th September, & on Sunday 6th September, I'm travelling from Derby, via Nottingham, to St Pancras. both journeys are on EMR trains, using Advance Singles.

Obviously, I'm not affected by the strike days, but the 'Action Short of Strike' might do, so what effect could ASOS have on my journeys?

Thoughts & advice most welcome.

 

[InTheEastMids]

I have been led to believe that the rules for competitive tendering* do not allow previous performance (or lack of it!) to be taken into account.

I don't believe that: you specify it as a criteria of the tender evaluation.

At the risk of going off-topic, there are rules for public sector procurement about how prior performance can be assessed

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a807c70ed915d74e33fab47/PPN04-15_Supplier_Past_Performance_.pdf

To ensure good delivery of public services and value for money, it is important that suppliers with the necessary technical and professional ability are selected to bid for contracts. One aspect of a supplier’s technical and professional ability is its reliability as demonstrated by its performance of past contracts. This Procurement Policy Note ("PPN") incorporates the requirements of the new Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Regulations) and sets out Government policy to ensure suppliers' past performance is taken into account in certain procurements.

Back on topic. EMR issued a statement yesterday which suggests their line is still very much "ORR have said these trains are safe, so they are safe".

EMR statement following this weekend's strike action | East Midlands Railway News

News from East Midlands Railway

news.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk

Despite the reliability issues, all EMR trains, including the Class 810 fleet, have been licensed by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and only entered service after successfully completing all required testing and meeting the regulator's rigorous safety standards.

 

[Merle Haggard]

At the risk of going off-topic, there are rules for public sector procurement about how prior performance can be assessed

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a807c70ed915d74e33fab47/PPN04-15_Supplier_Past_Performance_.pdf

Back on topic. EMR issued a statement yesterday which suggests their line is still very much "ORR have said these trains are safe, so they are safe".

EMR statement following this weekend's strike action | East Midlands Railway News

News from East Midlands Railway

news.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk

Thank you for the detail.
So it's the case that, although past poor performance will be taken into account, it cannot be given as the sole reason to preclude future contracts.

//

The current Private Eye's Signal Failures reminds that Hitachi already have the contract for supply of some of the HS2 fleet.

 

[duffield]

Thank you for the detail.
So it's the case that, although past poor performance will be taken into account, it cannot be given as the sole reason to preclude future contracts.

//

The current Private Eye's Signal Failures reminds that Hitachi already have the contract for supply of some of the HS2 fleet.

Playing devil's advocate, you could argue that given the no doubt eye-watering amount of compensation they are paying out for the 810 faults (and the huge expense of having to pay all those engineers overtime travelling up and down the MML try to fix faults on the go), they will have a massive financial incentive for this not to happen again, so they might actually be a better bet for HS2 than other companies who have not had such sharp and recent lessons!

 

[800001]

I reckon the wiring issues at Newton Aycliffe will have done more reputational damage than the cracks. That could be put on design, the wiring's just down to bad practices resulting in unit not being built to spec.

The wiring was used to spec, it's that the wiring looks were too large for the area they were being placed in.

 

[DerbySplitter]

Doesn't look like there's any solution to the dispute in the near future.

I need to book tickets Derby to London for the 15th and there's a good advance ticket deal via Tamworth to Euston at present. But, I'd rather go down the midland mainline to St Pancras as it's quicker and I'm not restricted to an 8.30pm return journey.

Anyone with any knowledge think a resolution might be agreed soon? It'd be typical if I booked the Tamworth tickets today and they call off the strike early next week.