East Midlands Railway (EMR) will begin running the first units of its Class 810 Aurora fleet, connecting Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, and Sheffield with London. The initial delivery of two trains occurred in August, allowing staff training to commence.
The fleet was originally scheduled for 2022 but faced delays during testing. EMR had targeted May 2025 for introduction. A phased rollout is planned through 2026, with some services temporarily operating with fewer carriages and without seat reservations. Key routes will be prioritised to reduce disruption.
The Intercity fleet includes 33 five-carriage trains, manufactured by Hitachi Rail in County Durham. They will replace the diesel trains introduced in 2004. Trains will operate on electric power between London St Pancras and a junction south of Leicester, using diesel engines on other parts of the network.
The new units mirror trains currently running on the East Coast and Great Western main lines. Features include additional seating, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, plug sockets, enhanced information screens, and modernised interiors.
