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So far, 2026 hasn’t seen any hugely impactful nationwide train strikes. Yes, London has had a few disruptive walk-outs but on a UK-wide level things have been fairly stress-free. But this month industrial action will return to a major British rail operator.
East Midlands Railway (EMR) services will be hit by strikes on weekends throughout August 2026. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has announced three 24-hour walk-outs. The union says the strike is in response to EMR failing to withdraw faulty trains.
Here’s everything you need to know about upcoming RMT industrial action on the UK’s rail network.
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When are the next train strike dates?
RMT members working for EMR will walk out on the following dates:
- Saturday August 1
- Saturday August 8
- Saturday August 15
The RMT is also taking action short of strike on August 2-7, 9-14 and 16 onwards.
On a nationwide level, there are no future strikes planned for now.
What train lines will be affected?
East Midlands Railway is the only operator set to be impacted. EMR runs trains across central and eastern England, serving the likes of London, Liverpool, Manchester, Derby, Nottingham, Norfolk and Lincolnshire.
When UK train workers go on a nationwide strike, these are all the lines that are typically impacted.
- Avanti West Coast
- CrossCountry
- East Midlands Railway
- Great Western Railway
- LNER
- TransPennine Express
- C2C
- Greater Anglia
- GTR (Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern, Thameslink)
- Southeastern
- South Western Railway
- Chiltern Railways
- Northern Trains
- West Midlands Railway
How will rail travel be affected by the strikes?
On strike dates, EMR will run a significantly reduced timetable on its Intercity and Connect routes. The key times to watch out for are between 7am and 7pm.
EMR is urging customers to only travel if necessary and to check train statuses before they travel.
Do workers get paid when on strike?
UK law states that employers do not have to pay employees who take part in industrial action. However, many unions keep some money aside to issue strikers with ‘strike pay’ while they occupy picket lines. For example, the RMT has the National Dispute Fund, which is supported by union membership payments as well as donations from members of the public.
When will the rail strikes end?
For a strike to end, a deal has to be struck between a union and either the service operator or the government. Union members then vote to approve the deal.
Why are rail workers striking?
RMT members working at EMR say they are striking due to the company refusing to withdraw faulty trains. It claims that the Class 810 Aurora fleet is operating with dangerous faults.
Can I get a refund if my train is cancelled?
According to National Rail, if your train is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled due to the industrial action, you will:
• Be entitled to a change or refund from the original retailer of your ticket
• Be able to use your ticket with another train company or an alternative route if it is available
What do rail chiefs and unions have to say about the strikes?
The RMT’s general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: ‘EMR 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 at least three times in the last week alone.’
‘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.’
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: ‘We strongly urge both the RMT and CrossCountry to get back around the table to resolve this as quickly as possible.’
Philippa Cresswell, customer experience director at EMR, said: ‘We’re sorry to customers whose journeys will be affected by this industrial action.
‘EMR continues to engage in constructive discussions with the RMT in the hope of resolving this dispute as quickly as possible.’
‘The dispute relates to concerns raised about the introduction of our new Class 810 Aurora fleet. Any suggestion that the trains do not meet the required safety standards is incorrect.
‘The Class 810 fleet entered passenger service only after successfully completing all required testing and meeting the rigorous safety standards required by the independent regulator.’
Are there any other strikes to be aware of?
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