The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) has announced strike action on the first three Saturdays in August, citing mounting safety concerns surrounding the new Class 810 "Aurora" fleet operated by East Midlands Railway following last month's Bedford crash that killed a driver and left 162 people injured.
Union demands trains taken out of service until faults fixed
The union says the Aurora trains have been "operating with a significant number of faults" and is calling for the units to be withdrawn from service until a list of outstanding issues has been addressed. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey has demanded the fleet remain sidelined until 25 faults are rectified.
"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," said Mr Dempsey.
The dispute has an immediate operational impact: the RMT confirmed industrial action will take place on the first three Saturdays of August. The union argues that some of the defects are serious and directly affect passenger and staff safety.
Alleged faults and a problematic procedure
According to the union and reporting in Rail Magazine, a procedure used by drivers to clear a particular system fault can result in key safety systems being switched off. That procedure is said to "effectively turn all train systems off, and then on again", producing a period of roughly 20 minutes when essential safety systems are unavailable.
Drivers reportedly were instructed that, when using that procedure, the signaller must be made aware of the fault and that a track closure and alternative communications must be in place during the outage.
- Reported faults include temperatures inside trains regularly reaching around 30°C, problems with passenger and driver doors, non-operational toilets and faulty air-conditioning.
- The RMT says the Aurora fleet has suffered a number of recurring technical issues since introduction.
- The union links those concerns to the fatal Bedford derailment, in which a driver died and 162 people were injured.
Practical impact and what passengers should know
East Midlands Railway operates the Class 810 Aurora trains affected by the dispute. Passengers planning travel in and out of Bedford and along the EMR network should expect disruption on the specified Saturdays in August and make contingency plans. Those with essential journeys are advised to check operator updates and to allow extra time for travel or seek alternative routes where possible.
| Planned strike dates | Action |
|---|---|
| First Saturday in August | RMT strike — network disruption expected |
| Second Saturday in August | RMT strike — network disruption expected |
| Third Saturday in August | RMT strike — network disruption expected |
The RMT has said employers issued safety notices without negotiating with union representatives, a point Mr Dempsey criticised as failing to involve those who represent operational staff. The union has warned it will maintain pressure until assurances are provided and faults remedied.
Further developments are likely as talks between the union, East Midlands Railway and industry regulators continue. For Bedford residents who rely on rail services, the coming weeks may bring both heightened scrutiny of the Aurora fleet and short-term travel disruption.
