UK rail union plans August strikes over safety faults in new Hitachi train fleet

The RMT union has announced strike action for East Midlands Railway staff on Saturday 1 August and the two subsequent Saturdays. The dispute centers on growing safety concerns regarding the operator's new Class 810 Aurora train fleet.

This industrial action underscores the severe operational and financial friction accompanying large-scale public transport modernization across the continent. For investors and rolling stock manufacturers, the delays and technical faults highlight the economic risks of integrating complex new fleets into existing transit networks.

The RMT claims the Hitachi Rail-built trains are operating with a "significant number" of faults since their introduction. Union officials allege that failing trains require a full reset that temporarily disables active safety systems and critical driver communications.

An operational briefing notes this reset process takes roughly 20 minutes and removes the driver's normal means of communication with the signaller. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey stated the company issued safety notices without consulting the representatives who face the most physical risk.

Dempsey added that staff had been "extremely patient" but demanded the faulty trains be taken out of service until they operate properly. The union has been in formal dispute with the operator since April over these unresolved technical and safety issues.

East Midlands Railway rejected the safety claims, insisting the Class 810 fleet met "rigorous safety standards" before entering passenger service in December 2025. A spokesperson acknowledged performance and reliability issues but maintained the trains do not fall below required safety thresholds.

The operator also reported maintenance challenges with its older Class 222 trains, affecting toilets, air conditioning, and catering equipment. These legacy units require additional maintenance support to handle increased running and operational demands alongside the introduction of the new fleet.

Hitachi Rail confirmed that more than a third of the Class 810 fleet has been delivered following a three-year delay. The manufacturer is investing in additional testing at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre to improve fleet introduction and resolve entry-into-service challenges.

East Midlands Railway plans to continue the rollout of the remaining Aurora trains in a controlled manner through the rest of the year and 2027. The ongoing dispute and technical hurdles serve as a cautionary tale for European infrastructure projects reliant on complex new manufacturing supply chains.