Story perspectives

East Midlands Railway Halves London-Midlands Trains Over Faulty Aurora Fleet

7/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

East Midlands Railway cut up to half of London-to-Midlands services because the new Class 810 Aurora fleet proved unreliable.
The 33-train Aurora fleet entered service in December 2025, three years late, and suffered repeated technical failures.
Regional officials called the emergency timetable reduction a “summer of chaos.”
Hitachi Rail is adding testing at Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre after Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander met Hitachi executives this month and praised their reputation.

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Story summary

East Midlands Railway cut up to half of London-to-Midlands services because the new Class 810 Aurora fleet proved unreliable.
The 33-train Aurora fleet entered service in December 2025, three years late, and suffered repeated technical failures.
Regional officials called the emergency timetable reduction a “summer of chaos.”
Hitachi Rail is adding testing at Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre after Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander met Hitachi executives this month and praised their reputation.