Rail strikes reminder: EMR services significantly reduced tomorrow and Saturday

East Midlands Railway (EMR) will be running a significantly reduced level of service tomorrow and Saturday, 3 December due to industrial action by members of Unite the Union. 

During the strike days, customers are advised to travel only if absolutely necessary and those travelling should ensure they check the time of their last return train. 

Other operators are not affected by the industrial action, and therefore customers who intend to use EMR and another operator to complete their journey should carefully check to see if that trip can still be completed. 

No services will run east out of Nottingham - affecting EMR's regional customers who might want to travel to Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. While on some routes, trains will all terminate by 1830 and no further services will run. 

On Saturday, 3 December and Sunday, 4 December planned engineering work is also taking place between Luton and London St Pancras International.

Replacement buses will run between Luton and Hitchin, connecting with Great Northern / Thameslink services between Hitchin and London St Pancras International / London Kings Cross. Customers should allow extra time to complete their journeys.

On Thursday, 1 December, some late-night Intercity services will be cancelled - see EMR's website for more details. 

As in previous strikes, EMR has been working with colleagues across the railway to ensure they can deliver a robust and reliable service for their customers where possible.

However, customers are strongly advised to check the EMR website, information in stations and social media for the latest advice and information.

Timetables for all services will be available shortly and will appear on journey planners from Wednesday, 30 November.

Will Rogers, Managing Director for East Midlands Railway, said: "As a result of strike action being taken by Unite the Union, we will be operating a significantly reduced service on Friday and Saturday.

"The impact of industrial action has specifically affected the operation of our train depots and reduces our ability to run our normal timetable.

"We are advising customers to plan ahead and only travel by rail if absolutely necessary on strike days. Customers are also strongly advised to check when the time of their last train is before setting off, understand how the strike action affects their whole journey and take note of the impact of planned engineering works.

"More detailed advice, including daily travel information, is available on our website."

Rail Replacement Bus services will not be provided where lines are closed as there is not enough capacity to meet demand. 

Changes to services

Members of Unite the Union will take strike action on Friday, 2 and Saturday, 3 December.

Thursday 1 December

Some late-night Intercity services will be cancelled - check website for details. 

Friday 2 December

EMR services will operate between 0730 and 1830 only. 

Except EMR Connect which will operate on a normal timetable between the hours of 05:00 and 01:30.

Nottingham and Worksop which will operate on a normal timetable between the hours of 05:15 and 23:00.

Crewe and Nottingham which will operate on a slightly reduced timetable between the hours of 06:00 and 22:00.

 EMR Intercity

• One Train Per Hour between Nottingham and London
• One Train Per Hour between Sheffield and London

EMR Connect

• Two Trains Per Hour between Corby and London (normal timetable, between the hours of 05:00 and 01:30)

EMR Regional

• One Train Per Hour between Derby and Matlock
• One Train Per Hour between Crewe and Nottingham (slightly reduced service between 06:00 and 22:00)
• One Train Per Hour between Sheffield and Nottingham
• One Train Per Hour between Leicester and Nottingham
• Normal timetable on our Robin Hood Line, between Nottingham and Worksop (normal timetable is between the hours of 05:15 and 23:00)

All other lines of route will be closed all day on Friday 2 December.

Saturday 3 December

EMR services will operate between 0730 and 1830 only.

Except EMR Connect which will operate between the hours of 05:00 and 01:30.

Nottingham and Worksop which will operate on a normal timetable between the hours of 05:15 and 23:00.

Crewe and Nottingham which will operate on a slightly reduced timetable between the hours of 06:00 and 22:00.

EMR Intercity

• One Train Per Hour between Nottingham and Luton
• One Train Per Hour between Sheffield and Luton

On Saturday 3 December, planned engineering work is taking place between Luton and London St Pancras International. Replacement buses will run between Luton and Hitchin, connecting with Great Northern / Thameslink services between Hitchin and London St Pancras International / London Kings Cross. Please allow extra time for your journey.

EMR Connect

• Two trains per hour between Corby and Kettering, with one each hour extending to Luton and calling at Wellingborough and Bedford (between the hours of 05:00 and 01:30)

On Saturday 3 December, planned engineering work is taking place between Luton and London St Pancras International. Replacement buses will run between Luton and Hitchin, connecting with Great Northern / Thameslink services between Hitchin and London St Pancras International / London Kings Cross. Please allow extra time for your journey.

EMR Regional

• One Train Per Hour between Derby and Matlock
• One Train Per Hour between Crewe and Nottingham (slightly reduced service between 06:00 and 22:00)
• One Train Per Hour between Sheffield and Nottingham
• One Train Per Hour between Leicester and Nottingham
• Normal timetable on our Robin Hood Line, between Nottingham and Worksop (normal timetable is between the hours of 05:15 and 23:00)

All other lines of route will be closed all day on Saturday 3 December.

Sunday 4 December

A normal service will operate, with the exception of planned engineering works. 

Replacement buses will run between Luton and Hitchin, connecting with Great Northern / Thameslink services between Hitchin and London St Pancras International / London Kings Cross. Please allow extra time for your journey.

Additionally, some trains between Corby and Luton will run between Corby and Kettering only.