# East Midlands Railway industrial action

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/east-midlands-railway-industrial-action
> Updated: 2026-08-26T11:05:37.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 3.

Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) initiated a 48-hour strike against East Midlands Railway (EMR) starting Sunday, August 30. The industrial action is motivated by safety concerns and technical faults involving the new Class 810 fleet, including issues with doors, toilets, and air conditioning. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey stated the union is demanding the trains be removed from service until these faults are resolved.

The strike is expected to cause significant disruption during the August bank holiday weekend, particularly for services traveling between London St Pancras and destinations such as Corby, Bedford, and Luton. While EMR has met with union representatives and is working with Hitachi Rail to address the technical issues, the strike will result in a reduced timetable for passengers.

During the strike period, EMR will operate a significantly reduced timetable, with only one train per hour operating on principal routes to and from London St Pancras. Passengers are advised to travel only if essential. Additional disruption is expected in the Nottinghamshire region due to local bus diversions and scheduled engineering works on the East Coast Main Line.

## Claims

- EMR will operate a significantly reduced timetable to and from London on Sunday and bank holiday Monday. (single source)
- RMT members at East Midlands Railway will strike over safety disputes. (single source)
- Network Rail is carrying out digital signalling upgrades. (single source)
- There will be no LNER trains between London King’s Cross and Peterborough on Sunday. (single source)
- The Met Office warns of a transition to unsettled weather with potential for heavy rain, thunderstorms, and localized flooding. (single source)
- The 60th anniversary of the Notting Hill Carnival is being dubbed the Diamond Jubilee. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-26: United Kingdom bank holiday faces rail strikes and weather warnings

UK bank holiday plans face potential disruption from RMT rail strikes at East Midlands Railway, LNER signalling upgrades, and Met Office warnings of heavy rain and thunderstorms.

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uk-bank-holiday-faces-rail-strikes-and-weather-warnings

### 2026-08-26: East Midlands Railway strike planned over Hitachi train concerns

RMT members will strike on 30 and 31 August over safety and reliability concerns regarding East Midlands Railway’s Hitachi Class 810 fleet, causing significant service reductions.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/east-midlands-railway-strike-planned-over-hitachi-train-concerns

### 2026-08-24: East Midlands Railway faces strike action over train safety

RMT members are striking for 48 hours starting August 30 over safety concerns and faults with East Midlands Railway’s new Class 810 trains, affecting routes between Bedford, Corby, and London.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/east-midlands-railway-faces-strike-action-over-train-safety

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Cite as: East Midlands Railway industrial action. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/east-midlands-railway-industrial-action