EMR bosses announce how strike will hit Sheffield rail services, as union members walk out over safety
Union members are set to take strike action on three dates during August
Railway bosses have explained how a strike will impact Sheffield’s train services in August.
The RMT union has announced its members employed by East Midlands Railway will take industrial action on August 1, 8 and 15.
EMR runs Sheffield’s London line, as well as some regional services.
EMR says it will be operating a significantly reduced timetable between 7am and 7pm on its Intercity and Connect routes.
In addition to strike action, the RMT union has also notified EMR that members will be taking action short of strike from Sunday, August 2 to Friday, August 7 (inclusive), Sunday, August 9 to Friday, August 14 (inclusive) and from Sunday, August 16 until further notice.
Trains may be subject to short notice alterations and cancellations.
Customers are advised to only travel if their journey is essential and to check their full journey, including first and last trains, before travelling on these dates.
Regional services are not affected.
No rail replacement buses will be available.
Philippa Cresswell, customer experience director at East Midlands Railway, said: "We're sorry to customers whose journeys will be affected by this industrial action.
"We know the disruption this will cause and are advising customers to only travel if their journey is essential on Saturday 1, 8 and 15 August, as we will be operating a significantly reduced timetable between 07:00 and 19:00.
"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."
The union says it has been in dispute with EMR since April following the roll out of its latest fleet of trains - known as the 810 fleet - which it claims has been operating ‘with a significant number of faults’.
RMT claims that they have 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.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that reps at EMR had been extremely patient and tried to engage with management.
Last month a train driver tragically died after a collision involved two East Midlands Railway trains.
Lines between Sheffield and London St Pancras were blocked after the incident near Bedfordshire at around 5.15pm on June 20.
How EMR strike will hit services
Saturday, August 1
EMR Intercity:
Services will operate between 7am and 7pm only
One train per hour between Nottingham and London St Pancras
One train per hour between Sheffield and London St Pancras
EMR Connect:
Services will operate between 7pm and 7pm only.
One train per hour between Corby and London St Pancras
EMR Regional:
Regional services are unaffected by the strike action and will operate as normal
Passengers are advised to check their full journey before travelling.
Passengers warned a significantly reduced service will operate on the West Midlands Railway network on Friday July 31 and Saturday August 1 due to separate strike action by members of the TSSA union. Passengers travelling on those dates are advised to check their full journey before travelling.
Saturday, August 8
EMR Intercity
Services will operate between 7am and 7pm only
One train per hour between Nottingham and London St Pancras
One train per hour between Sheffield and London St Pancras
EMR Connect:
Services will operate between 7am and 7pm only
One train per hour between Corby and London St Pancras
EMR Regional:
Regional services are unaffected by the strike action and will operate as normal
No rail replacement bus services will be provided
Customers are advised to check their full journey before travelling
Saturday, August 15
EMR Intercity:
Services will operate between 7am and 7pm only
One train per hour between Nottingham and London St Pancras
One train per hour between Sheffield and London St Pancras
EMR Connect:
Services will operate between 7am and 7pm only
One train per hour between Corby and London St Pancras
EMR Regional:
Regional services are unaffected by the strike action and will operate as normal