Workers' union RMT confirmed that East Midlands Railway (EMR) staff will stage 24-hour strikes on Saturday August 1, 8, and 15 over safety concerns with the new Hitachi Rail Class 810 fleet, known as Aurora. The union said the trains, introduced in December, are "likely to fail and require a full reset which leaves the train with no active safety systems."
Union and Company Responses
Eddie Dempsey, RMT general secretary, said: "Despite numerous attempts to resolve the dispute through talks EMR will not remove the 810s from service therefore the strikes will go ahead, and we remain available for further talks." He added that Will Rogers's departure as managing director of EMR reflected "yet another symptom of the sense of crisis surrounding the company."
An EMR spokesperson said it was "incorrect" to suggest the fleet did not meet required safety standards, but acknowledged "performance and reliability issues." The spokesperson added: "Any suggestion that the Hitachi Rail Class 810 fleet does not meet the required safety standards is incorrect. These trains entered passenger service only after successfully completing all required testing and meeting the rigorous safety standards required by the independent regulator."
Strike Impact and Timetable
On each strike day, EMR will operate a "significantly reduced" timetable with trains only running between 07:00 and 19:00 on its Intercity and Connect routes. There will be one train per hour between Nottingham and London St Pancras, Sheffield and London St Pancras, and Corby and London St Pancras. No rail replacement buses will be available, but regional services will not be affected. EMR advised customers to travel only if their journey is "essential."
Manufacturer's Commitment
A Hitachi Rail spokesperson said: "We remain focused on delivering the remainder of the fleet and supporting East Midlands Railway as more new trains enter passenger service. As part of this commitment, we are investing in additional testing activity at Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre to improve fleet introduction and delivery of the remaining trains."
