UK rail strikes travel advice and booking info

Last update: Thursday 3rd September 2026

 

East Midlands Railway strike action on Wednesday 16th & Thursday 17th September

The RMT union has announced strike action on Wednesday 16 September and Thursday 17 September 2026. EMR are currently assessing the impact of this industrial action on their services. Please check back nearer the time for updated information.

Before you travel

If you're travelling on any of the strike dates, check your full journey in advance, including first and last trains, as services will be significantly reduced. No rail replacement buses will be provided on any strike day.

Reduced timetables at a glance:

  • Wed 16 & Thu 17 Sep: Service plan to be confirmed

Please also be aware that RMT members are taking Action Short of Strike until further notice, meaning trains on non-strike days may also face short notice alterations and cancellations. Once timetables are finalised, we'll email you if your train is cancelled. 

If your journey is affected or you decide not to travel, you can request a fee-free refund through My Account.

Ticket acceptance

East Midlands Railway: Can I travel on a different day with my ticket?

If you hold a ticket for a strike day you can travel on a different day at no extra cost as per the guidance below:

  • Tickets dated Wednesday 16th September can be used to travel on EMR and connecting services* on Tuesday 15th September, Friday 18th September, Saturday 19th September, Sunday 20th September or Monday 21st September.
  • Tickets dated Thursday 17th September can be used to travel on EMR and connecting services* on Tuesday 15th September, Friday 18th September, Saturday 19th September, Sunday 20th September or Monday 21st September.

*Excludes connections with Grand Central, Heathrow Express, Hull Trains, Lumo.Please note that EMR Intercity services will remain affected by timetable reductions on non-strike days.

 

Off-Peak restrictions: Off-Peak tickets used on alternative dates must still be used during off-peak times.
Crossing London: If you are travelling on an alternative date, you will need to pay separately for any London Underground or DLR portion of your journey - your rail ticket's cross-London validity only applies on the original date.

 

Useful strike information

General ticket guidance

We know how frustrating strike action is, and we’re going to do everything we can to help.

There’s no need to get in touch and you can do this yourself online in just a few clicks. Log into your account now, or click ‘manage booking’ in your confirmation email, to see if it's already possible to get a fee-free refund. 

As a general guide…

Advance tickets

  • If you’ve booked with us and your train is cancelled or rescheduled, you’ll be entitled to a fee-free refund online. 
  • Your ticket would also be valid on the train before or after your booked journey for the same train operator, but please be aware that with reduced services on strike days these trains may be very busy.
  • Your ticket may also become valid for travel on other days. Details will be confirmed shortly after any strike action is announced.
  • If you have two single tickets that together form a return journey and only one leg of your journey is affected by the strikes, you can request a fee-free refund or change of journey for both legs of your trip online if all tickets remain unused.

Flexible tickets

  • If you've booked with us and your ticket is for a strike day, you'll be entitled to a fee-free refund.
  • Your ticket may also become valid for travel on other days. Details will be confirmed shortly after any strike action is announced.
  • If you are making a return journey and only one leg of your journey is affected by the strikes, you can request a fee-free refund or change of journey for both legs of your trip online if all tickets remain unused.
  • If you have two single tickets that together form a return journey and only one leg of your journey is affected by the strikes, you can request a fee-free refund or change of journey for both legs of your trip online if all tickets remain unused.
  • Alternatively you can reschedule your journey for another date, however an admin fee may apply.
  • Refunds and exchanges can be made online. 

Return tickets

  • If you are making a return journey and only one leg of your journey is affected, you can request a fee-free refund for both legs of your trip online if all tickets remain unused. This also applies if you have two single tickets that together form a return journey.

Season tickets

  • If you are a Weekly Season ticket holder and purchased your ticket after the strikes were announced you will only be entitled to compensation if you actually travel and are affected by cancellation or disruption and the delay to your journey meets the Delay Repay threshold. ​You will need to contact the train operator to claim Delay Repay compensation.

  • If you have a Season ticket that is monthly or longer and you cannot travel due to timetable disruption on the day that any strike action has cancelled your service then you can claim 100% compensation for these days through Delay Repay. ​You will need to contact the train operator to claim Delay Repay compensation.

  • You can apply for a refund of your Season ticket. Refunds are calculated from the date you return your season ticket and will be the difference between the price you paid and the cost of a ticket or tickets for the period for which you have used the ticket up to and including the date you request a refund. Please note an admin fee will apply.

Individual train operator updates

The following train operators have announced specific changes that apply to their services. We’ll keep this section updated as more information becomes available.

Other travel information

Check train times

Worried about rail strikes affecting your journey?

You can check general disruptions to services on our disruption information page.  

Change your ticket

You can currently request an exchange to your Advance ticket if you book with Trainline.

Changes are only allowed for a different time/date of travel, so you need to stick to the same departure and arrival stations.
The simplest way to amend your tickets is online via My Booking.
  • For eticket bookings you pay the difference between your original ticket and new ticket, plus a change fee. If your new ticket is cheaper than the original, then you only pay the fee but the difference will not be refunded.
  • For mobile and paper tickets we refund you whichever ticket is the lowest priced between your original or new ticket. From this we deduct a change fee based on the value of the ticket.

Travel by coach

During strike days, some routes may still be possible to travel by coach.

If there is a coach journey available on your route, you'll see it in the coach tab in the search results.

Passenger Assistance

If you want to book assistance for your journey, or you have already booked assistance and you want to confirm any changes, you can contact the train operator directly. 

You can find details on how to contact your train operator here.

FAQs

When are the next train strikes?

We will keep this page updated with information about forthcoming strike action. You can check above for the latest details.

How can I check if my train is running?

Journey planners will be updated with details of disruption several days in advance of any industrial action. If you are booked onto a train which is cancelled or changed, we will also contact you directly at the same time.

You can check the latest updates on rail service in the UK on our disruption information page.