East Midlands Railway workers strike over Class 810 safety faults

Workers at East Midlands Railway are preparing to walk out over severe safety concerns tied to faults on the Hitachi-built Class 810 fleet. The looming industrial action follows intense pressure surrounding the operation of these units, which were introduced following delays to replace older rolling stock. The first round of strike action is set for August 1, 2026, with further strikes planned for the following two Saturdays, according to reporting from the World Socialist Web Site.

Rail, Maritime and Transport union members working at East Midlands Railway, including staff responsible for onboard train operations and passenger safety, voted for the walkouts after raising alarms about technical glitches. The disputes underscore mounting tension between rail operators and workforce representatives regarding rolling stock reliability and passenger protection. An East Midlands Railway spokesperson admitted that ongoing service reliability and maintenance issues on both fleets had impacted the operator's ability to run a reliable Intercity service, resulting in half of the services between Sheffield and London St Pancras being axed.

Media additions

Operational briefings obtained by media outlets detailed procedures for executing an Off/On reset on Class 810 trains when certain faults occur. Control staff noted that this process takes approximately 20 minutes and results in the temporary loss of several safety-critical systems, creating an increased risk of an uncontrolled evacuation and removing the driver's normal means of communication with the signaller. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union stated that trains requiring such interventions have been sent into service repeatedly, prompting calls for the faulty fleet to be withdrawn entirely until proven safe.

Rail, Maritime and Transport General Secretary Eddie Dempsey criticised management for implementing safety notices without proper consultation or negotiation with workforce representatives.

"The company has even put out safety notices with no involvement, consultation or negotiation with our reps, who represent those most at risk."

Eddie Dempsey, General Secretary, via World Socialist Web Site

The union has been in dispute with East Midlands Railway since April following the rollout of the Class 810 fleet.

Meanwhile, train drivers represented by ASLEF operate the same rolling stock, though the union has not called for coordinated industrial action over the Class 810 faults. Broader concerns about infrastructure safety and signalling gaps have further intensified the debate among railway employees, with ASLEF highlighting historical debates over braking systems and safety architecture across Britain's rail network.

Parallel tensions have affected urban transport networks as well. Bus drivers represented by Unite the Union staged strikes across north London and Essex after rejecting an offer from Arriva North London regarding working conditions during hot weather. TfL warned passengers to expect little or no service on affected routes during these walkouts, which coincided with engineering closures on the Piccadilly line.

Operator	Primary Union	Core Dispute Issue	Scheduled Action
East Midlands Railway	RMT	Class 810 safety faults and reset procedures	August 1, 2026, and subsequent Saturdays

As negotiations continue between private operators, government bodies, and workforce unions, travellers are advised to monitor official operator channels closely. Further announcements regarding emergency timetables, ticket acceptance policies, and potential service alterations are expected as the strike dates approach.