Warning to commuters as Leicester trains cancelled for strikes

East Midlands Railway (EMR) has confirmed it will not be running trains when services are hit by strikes next week. Industrial action by members of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (Aslef) union will take place on Tuesday, May 7, Wednesday, May 8, and Thursday, May 9.

Each day will see different train companies impacted as their staff stage staggered walkouts. Some 18 operators will be affected over the strike period. EMR said it will be hit by the walkouts on Wednesday, May 8, and has cancelled all trains on that day as a result.

The company is also warning commuters there could be disruption on other days next week. An overtime ban for striking staff will be in place between Monday, May 6, and Saturday, May 11.

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EMR said it plans to run a normal timetable. There is a possibility of short notice cancellations and alterations, however, the company has warned.

On Tuesday, May 7, it added EMR Connect services are likely to be busier and customers may face extended journey times due to strike action affecting Thameslink services. EMR will also be operating an amended timetable with a different stopping pattern between Liverpool Lime Street and Sheffield on Thursday, May 9.

This is to better accommodate the number of customers the operator is expecting to use this route as strike action will affect other train operating companies that normally run it, it added. Customers are being advised to check their full journey, including first and last trains, before travelling due to strike action impacting multiple train operators on different days.

Will Rogers, managing director of East Midlands Railway, said: "This approach from the ASLEF union means different parts of the network and different train operating companies are affected at different times. Unfortunately we cannot run any services on Wednesday, 8 May.

“However, during the days affected by action short of strike we plan to run a normal timetable. Customers are advised to check our website to understand how their whole journey is affected before setting off and expect possible disruption or late notice cancellations."

EMR service changes during the strikes

Monday, May 6 – Overtime ban

EMR is planning to run a normal timetable. However, there could be short-notice alterations and cancellations.

Tuesday, May 7 – Overtime ban

EMR is planning to run a normal timetable. However, there could be short-notice alterations and cancellations.

Strike action is also taking place on c2c, Greater Anglia (including Stansted Express), Great Northern, Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express and South Western Railway (including Island Line).

Due to strike action taking place on Thameslink, our Connect services are likely to be busier on this day and you may face extended journey times.

Wednesday, May 8 – Strike day

No EMR services. Strike action is also taking place on Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Heathrow Express, London Northwestern and West Midlands Railway.

Thursday, May 9 – Overtime ban

EMR is planning to run a normal timetable. However, there could be short-notice alterations and cancellations.

Services between Liverpool Lime Street and Sheffield will be operating with an amended timetable. EMR services will only call at Alfreton, Chesterfield, Sheffield, Stockport, Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford Road and Liverpool Lime Street.

EMR services will not be calling at Dronfield, Ilkeston, Langley Mill, Widnes, Warrington Central or Liverpool South Parkway. The first and last services will not call at Dore and Totley, Grindleford, Hathersage, Bamford, Hope, Edale or Chinley or Hazel Grove, or Birchwood.

Strike action is also taking place on LNER, Northern and TransPennine Express and other train operators may be running a reduced service due to an overtime ban. Please check your full journey before travelling.

Friday, May 10 – Overtime Ban

EMR is planning to run a normal timetable. However, there could be short-notice alterations and cancellations.

Saturday, May 11 – Overtime Ban

EMR is planning to run a normal timetable. However, there could be short-notice alterations and cancellations.