Reminder: RMT strike action to affect EMR services on 1, 8 and 15 August - with no first class available on days affected
- Members from the RMT union will strike on Saturday 1, 8 and 15 August.
- EMR will operate a significantly reduced timetable starting at 07:00 and finishing before 19:00 on its Intercity and Connect routes.
- EMR will temporarily declassify First Class on its Intercity services during strike days
- 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.
- Customers are advised to only travel if their journey is essential and to check their full journey, including first and last trains, before travelling on these dates.
- Regional services are not affected.
The RMT union has announced strike action on Saturday 1 August, Saturday, 8 August and Saturday, 15 August 2026.
Customers are advised to only travel if their journey is essential and to check their full journey, including first and last trains, before travelling on these dates.
On the strike days EMR, which is operated by Transport UK, will operate a significantly reduced timetable starting at 07:00 and finishing before 19:00 on its Intercity and Connect routes.
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.
First Class customers who already have tickets for the days affected (Saturday 1, 8 and 15 August) or are Season Ticket holders are asked to contact EMR’s Customer Service Centre for details on how to claim a refund.
Customers who purchased their tickets from another retailer should contact them directly.
More information is available at: Train Strike information | Rail Strike Dates | EMR
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.
Philippa Cresswell, Customer Experience Director at East Midlands Railway, said: "We're sorry to customers whose journeys will be affected by this industrial action.
"We know the disruption this will cause and are advising customers to only travel if their journey is essential on Saturday 1, 8 and 15 August, as we will be operating a significantly reduced timetable starting at 07:00 and finishing before 19:00.
"To help as many customers as possible during this period, we will temporarily declassify First Class on our Intercity services so that everyone can make use of the full seating capacity available. This is a temporary measure for the duration of the strike timetable only, after which our usual First Class arrangements will resume.
"We remain fully committed to offering a high-quality experience to those customers travelling with us.
"EMR continues to engage in constructive discussions with the RMT with a focus on resolving this dispute as quickly as possible."
Saturday 1 August
Customers are advised to only travel if their journey is essential.
EMR Intercity
• Services will operate between 07:00 and finish before 19:00.
• One train per hour between Nottingham and London St Pancras.
• One train per hour between Sheffield and London St Pancras.
• First Class will be temporarily declassified to maximise seating capacity for all customers.
EMR Connect
• Services will operate between 07:00 and finish before 19:00.
• One train per hour between Corby and London St Pancras.
EMR Regional
• Regional services are unaffected by the strike action and will operate as normal.
• Customers are advised to check their full journey before travelling.
Saturday 8 August
Customers are advised to only travel if their journey is essential.
EMR Intercity
• Services will operate between 07:00 and finish before 19:00.
• One train per hour between Nottingham and London St Pancras.
• One train per hour between Sheffield and London St Pancras.
• First Class accommodation will be temporarily declassified to maximise seating capacity for all customers.
EMR Connect
• Services will operate between 07:00 and finish before 19:00.
• One train per hour between Corby and London St Pancras.
EMR Regional
• Regional services are unaffected by the strike action and will operate as normal.
• No rail replacement bus services will be provided.
Saturday 15 August
Customers are advised to only travel if their journey is essential.
EMR Intercity
• Services will operate between 07:00 and before 19:00.
• One train per hour between Nottingham and London St Pancras.
• One train per hour between Sheffield and London St Pancras.
• First Class accommodation will be temporarily declassified to maximise seating capacity for all customers.
EMR Connect
• Services will operate between 07:00 and before 19:00.
• One train per hour between Corby and London St Pancras.
EMR Regional
• Regional services are unaffected by the strike action and will operate as normal.
Customers should continue to check the EMR website for the latest information: Train Strike information | Rail Strike Dates | EMR