The RMT union has announced plans for strikes on East Midlands Railway (EMR) due to concerns about the safety of its new Class 810 fleet. The union alleges that EMR is operating trains that are "likely to fail and require a full reset which leaves the train with no active safety systems."
According to an operational briefing seen by the BBC, the reset process for the Class 810 units takes approximately 20 minutes. During this time, several safety-critical systems are temporarily lost, increasing the risk of an uncontrolled evacuation and removing the driver's normal communication with the signaller.
Eddie Dempsey, RMT general secretary, stated that union representatives at EMR have been "extremely patient" and attempted to engage with management. He also criticized the company for issuing safety notices without consulting or negotiating with their representatives, who are most at risk. The RMT is demanding that trains with these faults be taken out of service until they are proven to operate correctly.
An EMR spokesperson confirmed that the Hitachi Rail Class 810 fleet entered passenger service after completing all required testing and meeting rigorous safety standards. The company acknowledged that the fleet has experienced performance and reliability issues and is working with the manufacturer, Hitachi Rail, to resolve them. EMR plans to continue the rollout of the new fleet in a controlled manner throughout the remainder of the year and into 2027.
A Hitachi Rail spokesperson added that more than a third of the Class 810 fleet has been delivered since its entry into service with EMR in December 2025. Hitachi Rail is collaborating with industry partners during the fleet's introduction phase, implementing improvements and supporting the transition to the new Aurora trains. The company is investing in additional testing at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre to enhance fleet introduction and the delivery of remaining trains.