Rail strikes reminder: Football fans and Eurovision final attendees urged to check travel plans

East Midlands Railway's (EMR) is urging customers considering using its services to attend football fixtures or the Eurovision final to check how their trip is affected by rail strikes this week.

Services will be significantly reduced and impacted due to industrial action by members of the RMT and ASLEF unions. 

There will be no services on Friday, 12 May as members from union ASLEF will take industrial action. This strike action specifically affects train drivers and therefore EMR will be unable to operate any trains during the action.

The strikes will also affect other train operating companies and their services across the country.

On Saturday, 13 May, EMR will be operating a significantly reduced service with trains only running between 0700 - 1900 - with the last departures starting between 1500 and 1630.

Therefore, customers should understand how their train home could be affected - especially if they are considering attending an event - such as a sporting fixture or Eurovision. 

However, customers are being advised to travel by rail only if absolutely necessary and should be aware that strike action will affect other routes across the country with very limited services running across the whole rail network.

Customers should also ensure they check their full journey before traveling and are strongly advised to check the EMR website, information in stations and social media for the latest advice and information.

EMR is expecting to run a normal timetable from Monday, 15 May until, and including, Saturday, 20 May - which covers the period ASLEF has withdrawn non-contractual overtime.

However, trains may be subject to short notice alterations and cancellations. Journey planners will be updated online on Wednesday, 10 May. Please check before you travel.

More rail strikes are also planned for the end of the month and early June. 

Will Rogers, Managing Director for East Midlands Railway, said: "Customers who are considering to use rail to attend football fixtures or the Eurovision final later this week are strongly advised to check when the time of their last train is before setting off and understand how the strike action affects their whole journey.

"Unfortunately, we will be unable to run any services on Friday and only a limited number on Saturday - where we are advising customers to plan ahead and only travel by rail if absolutely necessary."

Changes to services 

12th May

Members of the ASLEF union will take strike action on Friday 12 May. ASLEF represents train drivers and therefore we will not be operating any trains. Online journey planners will reflect this on Friday 5 May.

13^th May 

Only travel if necessary. EMR services will run between the hours of 0700 – 1900 only. Services will start later and finish earlier than usual with the last departures starting between 1500 and 1630. Please ensure you check the time of the first and last return train before you travel.  Journey planners will be updated online on Saturday 6 May.

EMR Intercity

• One Train Per Hour between Nottingham and London St Pancras
• One Train Per Hour between Sheffield and London St Pancras
  
  EMR Connect
  
  
• One Train Per Hour between Corby and London St Pancras
  
  EMR Regional
  
  
• One Train per Hour between Derby and Matlock
• One Train per Hour between Derby and Nottingham
• One Train per Hour between Sheffield and Nottingham
• One Train per Hour between Leicester and Lincoln (Stopping Service)
• One Train per Hour between Mansfield Woodhouse and Nottingham
• One Train per Hour between Nottingham and Grantham
  
  All other lines of route will be closed and no Rail Replacement Bus services will be provided.

Strike action will affect other routes across the country. Please check your full journey before travelling.

15th May - 20th May 

EMR is expecting to run a normal timetable between Monday 15 – Saturday 20 May. However, trains may be subject to short notice alterations and cancellations. Journey planners will be updated online on Wednesday 10 May. Please check before you travel.