Rail union RMT has said 24-hour strike action on East Midlands Railways will go ahead on Saturday, August 1, after the company ‘refused to withdraw faulty trains and talks collapsed’.

The dispute centres around the roll out of the 810 fleet which the union claims has been operating with a ‘significant number’ of dangerous faults.

It also claims EMR has been sending trains into service that are likely to fail and require a full reset which leaves the train with no active safety systems including loss of communication between train drivers, dispatchers, and trackside which has occurred at least three times in the last week alone.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that the sudden departure of the managing director of East Midlands Railway this week was yet another symptom of the sense of crisis surrounding the company.

Strike action is planned to go ahead on August1, 8 and15

placeholder image — Strike action is planned to go ahead on August1, 8 and15

“Despite numerous attempts to resolve the dispute through talks EMR will not remove the 810s from service therefore the strikes will go ahead, and we remain available for further talks” he said.

An EMR spokesperson said suggestions that the Hitachi Rail Class 810 fleet did not meet the required safety standards was "incorrect", and added it continued "to engage in discussions with RMT regarding this dispute".

EMR stated it would operate a ‘significantly reduced’ timetable on August 1, 8 and 15, with trains only running between 7am and 7pm on its Intercity and Connect routes.

The train operator added there would be one train per hour between Nottingham and London St Pancras, Sheffield and London St Pancras as well as Corby and London St Pancras.

Customers are advised to only travel if their journey was essential on those days with no rail replacement buses available.