East Midlands Railway train. Photo: Electric Egg / Shutterstock.com Thousands of rail passengers across England are facing mixed news ahead of the busy summer travel period.
Industrial action that had been scheduled to affect London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway on Friday, July 31, 2026, and Saturday, August 1, has officially been suspended. According to National Rail, a normal timetable will now operate across both networks on the affected dates, bringing relief to travelers who had been preparing for widespread disruption.
The suspended action involved members of the TSSA union and was expected to impact services across multiple routes. National Rail confirmed that the dispute had been paused, allowing both operators to maintain their regular schedules.
However, the picture is very different for passengers using East Midlands Railway.
National Rail says industrial action by members of the RMT union is still planned for August 1, August 8, and August 15. If the strikes go ahead, East Midlands Railway's Intercity and Connect services will operate on a significantly reduced timetable, with trains running only between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
The disruption will primarily affect services to and from London St Pancras International. On each strike day, East Midlands Railway plans to operate:
-One train per hour between London St Pancras International and Nottingham.
-One train per hour between London St Pancras International and Sheffield.
-One train per hour between London St Pancras International and Corby.
Regional services operated by East Midlands Railway are not affected by the planned industrial action.
Passengers are also being warned about additional disruption beyond the strike dates. The RMT has notified East Midlands Railway that members will undertake Action Short of Strike from August 2 to August 7, August 9 to August 14, and from August 16 until further notice. As a result, travelers could experience short-notice timetable changes and cancellations throughout the month.
National Rail is advising customers to travel only if their journey is essential on the affected dates and to check their travel plans before setting off.
Ticket flexibility has been introduced for affected passengers. Customers holding tickets for August 1, 8, or 15 can travel on alternative dates within the windows outlined by East Midlands Railway or request a full refund through their point of purchase.
While one rail dispute has been resolved just in time for the summer getaway season, another continues to cast uncertainty over travel plans for thousands of passengers across the East Midlands and beyond.