Strikes Cause Disruption for Market Harborough Passengers

Market Harborough rail passengers are facing disruption this Bank Holiday weekend as strike action affects East Midlands Railway services.

RMT members are taking part in 48-hour strike action on Sunday and Monday in an ongoing dispute over safety concerns surrounding EMR’s Class 810 Aurora trains.

EMR is running a significantly reduced timetable, with services starting later and finishing before 7pm. The operator is advising passengers to make essential journeys only and warning trains are likely to be extremely busy.

The dispute centres on faults reported with the Class 810 Aurora fleet. The RMT says some trains have suffered problems including air conditioning, doors and toilets, and is calling for the trains to be withdrawn until the faults are resolved.

East Midlands Railway says the fleet meets the required safety standards and that it is continuing discussions with the union to resolve the dispute.

James Coxon explains the impact of the strike on passengers:

Market Harborough rail passengers are facing disruption this Bank Holiday weekend

RMT representative John Ward says the union remains concerned about the safety of the Aurora trains:

Passengers are being advised to check their full journey before travelling, including first and last trains, as services and timings may be subject to change.

The RMT has also announced further strike action for September 16 and 17 if the dispute is not resolved.