East Midlands Railway (EMR) have been running services on the East Midlands franchise since August 2019. If you're after train tickets, look no further. At Trainline, we'll show you where EMR can take you and how to book the best value fares for your journey.
To find EMR tickets, simply start a search above, and we'll show you the best available journey times and prices. For more information about accessibility on East Midlands Railway services, check out our Accessible Travel guide.
East Midlands Railway map
Unsure about where to start your adventure? You've come to the right place! From the main hub of London St Pancras, you can enjoy speedy services to Derby, Leicester, Sheffield and many other destinations in between.
East Midlands Railway takes you further. From the capital to other major cities like Leicester and Nottingham, EMR connects various parts of the Midlands, Central and Northern England, smooth and hassle-free.
For example, if you're traveling from Nottingham, you can easily reach East Midlands Parkway (15m), Loughborough (20m), Derby (28m), Leicester (36m), Market Harborough (46m), Kettering (54m), Sheffield (58m) and Wellingborough (1h 17m). Frequent EMR services also connect all these stations to London St Pancras.
How to get cheap East Midlands Railway tickets
If you're after cheap UK train tickets, check out the hints below and see how you could bag yourself a bargain. We'll even highlight the cheapest prices!
Book in advance
East Midlands Railway tickets will usually go on sale 3 months before the date of travel. Look out for Advance tickets, as these tend to be cheaper when they're first released. Be quick though, as they sell out on busier routes.
Find out more about our Advance ticket alert tool.
Travel Off-Peak
When travelling by train in the UK, you can benefit from reduced fares by choosing times of day that are less busy. When searching for East Midlands Railway tickets with us, we'll display all available tickets and options, highlighting the cheapest ones.
Learn more about Off-Peak train times.
Price Prediction
Our clever little Price Prediction tool will peek into the future and let you know when East Midlands Railway ticket prices are about to rise – meaning you'll never miss out on the best value fares. Beat the rush and save on price too. (Currently available in the UK app only)
Discover the magic of Price Prediction.
Season tickets
If you travel on the same route more than three times a week, then an East Midlands Railway Season ticket could help you to save both valuable time and money. Not only that, they're available in a number of flexible options to suit different time frames.
Check out our Season ticket Calculator today to get started.
Consider a Railcard
They're types of train discount cards you can buy for £30 for unlimited use. You can get up to a 1/3 off the price of Off-Peak train tickets when using a Railcard. From kids to elderly people, there are great discounts out there to be had.
Find out more about Railcards or renewing a Railcard.
GroupSave
GroupSave is a concession that allows any group of 3 - 9 passengers travelling together up to a 34% discount on Off-Peak tickets on selected routes.
Great for families and groups of friends, you can find this option in the drop-down menu when booking your train tickets.
Buy East Midlands Railway Flexi Season tickets with us
Heading into the office less and want to save money on commuting to work? You can buy digital Flexi Season tickets for East Midlands Railway routes in our app. Travelling with a Flexi Season ticket on eligible routes can be cheaper than buying a single or return ticket, plus it provides you with more flexibility than a normal Season ticket. Why not find out more about digital train Season tickets?
Discover digital tickets
Enjoy smoother EMR journeys – go straight to the train when you use tickets on your phone. 94% of our customers wouldn't use anything else! Mobile Tickets will get sent directly to your Trainline app and etickets can be opened on your phone as a PDF. Both let you skip the queues at the ticket machine and breeze straight through the gates using your phone. They’re available on most EMR journeys, so be sure to select this option when you book.
Learn more about Mobile Tickets and etickets.
East Midlands Railway First Class
Whether you're travelling for work, leisure or a bit of both, East Midlands Railway First Class offers comfort and style.
Travelling in First Class with EMR is a great way to kicking back and cruising in style. You'll find First Class options on most EMR routes including on every service either arriving at or departing from London St Pancras.
So, what do you get when you upgrade to First Class? You'll receive complimentary breakfast on selected trains and a wide range of tasty dishes, from light snacks to main meals on an all-day menu, all freshly prepared on board at great taste and value.
To add to that, you'll enjoy comfy and spacious seats onboard, wider tables, free WiFi and quieter carriages if you need to work or fancy a snooze while you cruise.
Find out more about travelling First Class in the UK.
Taking your bike on East Midlands Railway trains
Planning a day out on your bike? Or cycling as part of your commute to work? You’re in luck. Taking bikes on trains in the UK is completely free.
Whether you need to make a reservation for your bike depends on the East Midlands Railway service you're travelling on:
EMR Connect trains between Corby and London: Full-sized bikes aren't permitted on services that arrive into London St Pancras before 10:00, or depart between 16:00 and 19:00 on weekdays. Travel with a full-sized bike outside of these times is fine. There are no dedicated bike storage spaces on these trains so you must store it in the vestibule area and stay with it throughout your journey.
Services to and from London and between Liverpool and Norwich: Reservations are essential.
If you’re taking a fold-up bike on board there’s no need for a reservation, but you must be able to carry the bike onto the train and fit it in the luggage rack.
Find out more about taking bikes on trains in the UK.
London to Luton Airport
As well as short and long distance commuter services, East Midlands Railway provides a great way for those coming from central London to get to Luton Airport.
London Luton Airport is one of the six main international airports in the capital. It mainly serves domestic and European flights, although there are some services to countries in North Africa and certain parts of Asia.
As Luton Airport doesn't have its own designated train station, you’ll need to catch the train from London St Pancras to Luton Airport Parkway which takes around 40m on average. From here, you can hop on the shuttle bus which takes around 10m to reach the airport. The entire journey usually takes just under an hour in total.
From 27th March 2023, the Luton DART replaced the shuttle bus service between Luton Airport Parkway and London Luton Airport. The Luton DART is a passenger transit system that will take you to the airport in just under 4 minutes. If you choose Luton Airport as the start or end point of your journey, the Luton DART is included as part of your rail ticket.
Find out more about trains to Luton Airport.
Top East Midlands Railway destinations
Need a bit of information ahead of your next trip? Check out these popular EMR destinations for travel details and nearby attractions.
East Midlands Railway Delay Repay
Did you know you can claim Delay Repay if your East Midlands Railway train was delayed by 15 minutes or more? Check out our dedicated page to Delay Repay for more details.
Good to know
Travelling with East Midlands Railway? Find out everything you need to know about luggage allowance, pets and other onboard facilities here.
Is there WiFi onboard EMR services?
Can I take a bicycle on the train?
How much luggage can I bring on an EMR journey?
What are EMR's peak hours?
Contact information
Got a query about your East Midlands Railway journey? Get in touch online.
If you want to get in touch with our customer support team about a booking you've made with us, visit our help section.