RMT SAFETY STRIKE AT EAST MIDLANDS RAILWAY

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: september/october 2026 :: RMTnews 4 RMT members working at East Midlands Railway (EMR) took 24-hour strike action with more planned over growing safety concerns that the company has failed to address. The union has been in dispute with EMR for some time following the roll out of new Hitachi Class 810 'Aurora' fleet which has been operating with a significant number of faults from non- working toilets to broken air con systems. EMR is also facing major disruptions, cancellations, and a reduced timetable due to severe reliability and technical faults with its new fleet as well as maintenance backlogs on older trains. As a result, it has been sending trains into service that are likely to fail and require a full reset which leaves the train with no active safety systems including loss of communication between train drivers, dispatchers, and trackside which has occurred on multiple occasions. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that union reps and RMT officers had been extremely patient and tried to engage with management to no avail. “The company has even put out safety notices with no involvement, consultation or negotiation with our reps who represent those most at risk. “RMT is demanding that whilst these faults exist and until these trains are shown to be operating properly, they should be taken out of service,” he said. RMT has called on the government to instruct Northern Trains to cease trials that reduce gate line operations. The union understands that Northern Trains has instructed Carlisle Support Services (CSS) to hold trail that reduce the operation of gate lines on the Northern contract at many locations including St Helens Central, Blackburn, Harrogate, Skipton, Rochdale and Wigan Wallgate. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey that only recently government rail minister Peter Hendy had announced investment in physical gate lines across the country to prevent fair evasion which was losing the taxpayer millions in lost revenue. “Open gates and no checks will not only lead to more fare avoidance but increase anti- social behaviour as the gate lines often act as a physical barrier. “We will be writing to the rail minister Lord Peter Hendy to point out that Northen Trains plans flatly contradict what the government is trying to do,” he said. RMT SAFETY STRIKE AT EAST MIDLANDS RAILWAY Union calls for withdrawal of faulty 810 fleet Union says cuts contradict government policy NO GATE LINE REDUCTIONS ON NORTHERN TRAINS!