Due to industrial action by members of Unite the Union, there will be severe disruption to train services operated by East Midlands Railway (EMR) tomorrow, Friday, 2nd, and Saturday, 3rd December.

Although other train companies are not affected by the industrial action, customers who plan to use East Midlands Railway and another operators to complete their journey should check beforehand to see whether their journey can be completed.

Rail-replacement bus services will not be provided where lines are closed as there is not enough capacity to meet demand.

Changes to services

Thursday 1 December

Some late-night Intercity services will be cancelled – details of the affected services are on the East Midlands Railway website at https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/

Friday 2 December

• East Midlands Railway services will operate between 0730 and 1830 only, except for EMR Connect which will operate a normal timetable between the hours of 05:00 and 01:30.
• EMR Intercity will operate one train per hour between Nottingham and London and between Sheffield and London.
• EMR Connect will operate two trains per hour between Corby and London, to a normal timetable between 05:00 and 01:30.
• EMR Regional will operate one train per hour between Derby and Matlock, Sheffield and Nottingham, Leicester and Nottingham, and between Crewe and Nottingham with a slightly reduced service between 06:00 and 22:00.
• EMR Regional will operate a normal timetable on the Robin Hood Line, between Nottingham and Worksop between 05:15 and 23:00.
• All other East Midlands Railway routes will be closed all day.

Saturday 3 December

East Midlands Railway services will operate between 0730 and 1830 only, except for EMR Connect which will operate a normal timetable between the hours of 05:00 and 01:30.

EMR Regional will operate a normal timetable on the Robin Hood Line, between Nottingham and Worksop between 05:15 and 23:00.

EMR Intercity will operate one train per hour between Nottingham and Luton and between Sheffield and Luton.

EMR Connect will operate two trains per hour between 05:00 and 01:30 between Corby and Kettering, with one train each hour extending to Luton and calling at Wellingborough and Bedford.

Because of planned engineering work taking place between Luton and London St Pancras International, rail-replacement buses will run between Luton and Hitchin where they will connect with Great Northern / Thameslink services between Hitchin and London St Pancras International / London Kings Cross. Passengers should allow extra time for their journey.

EMR Regional will operate one train per hour between Derby and Matlock, Sheffield and Nottingham, Leicester and Nottingham, and between Crewe and Nottingham with a slightly reduced service between 06:00 and 22:00.

All other East Midlands Railway routes will be closed all day.

Sunday 4 December

A normal service will operate, with the exception of planned engineering work taking place between Luton and London St Pancras International, rail-replacement buses will run between Luton and Hitchin where they will connect with Great Northern / Thameslink services between Hitchin and London St Pancras International / London Kings Cross. Passengers should allow extra time for their journey.

Some trains between Corby and Luton will run between Corby and Kettering only.

Will Rogers, Managing Director for East Midlands Railway, said: “As a result of strike action being taken by Unite the Union, we will be operating a significantly reduced service on Friday and Saturday.

“The impact of industrial action has specifically affected the operation of our train depots and reduces our ability to run our normal timetable.

“We are advising customers to plan ahead and only travel by rail if absolutely necessary on strike days. Customers are also strongly advised to check when the time of their last train is before setting off, understand how the strike action affects their whole journey and take note of the impact of planned engineering works.

“More detailed advice, including daily travel information, is available on our website.”