East Midlands Trains

East Midlands Trains
JoshR319 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	East Midlands Trains
Type	Train operating company
Industry	Rail transport
Fate	Franchise ended 2019
Successor	East Midlands Railway
Founded	2007
Defunct	2019
Headquarters	Derby
Area served	East Midlands, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, London

East Midlands Trains is a former British train operating company that provided intercity and regional services across the Midlands, East Anglia, Yorkshire and London. It operated from 2007 until 2019, serving major hubs such as London St Pancras railway station, Derby railway station, Nottingham railway station, Leicester railway station and Sheffield railway station while interfacing with national entities including Network Rail, the Department for Transport (United Kingdom), and successor franchises like East Midlands Railway.

History

East Midlands Trains began operation in November 2007 after the award of the franchise by the Department for Transport (United Kingdom), succeeding operations previously run by National Express East Coast and interacting with timetable changes established after the Railways Act 1993. The franchise operated through events such as the 2012 London Olympic Games, the 2016 Brexit referendum, and the 2018 timetable rework influenced by Office of Rail and Road regulation. Its tenure concluded in 2019 when the franchise passed to Abellio-backed East Midlands Railway after a competitive bidding process alongside bidders like Stagecoach Group and Virgin Group.

Operations and Services

EMT operated intercity services on the Midland Main Line between London St Pancras railway station and Sheffield railway station, with extensions to Nottingham railway station, Leicester railway station and Derby railway station. It also ran regional and commuter services connecting towns such as Lincoln, Grantham, Market Harborough, Matlock, and Skegness and provided gauge-constrained connections to Manchester Piccadilly via corridor services intersecting with operators like Northern Trains and TransPennine Express. Timetables were coordinated with national bodies including Network Rail and regulated by the Office of Rail and Road, while revenue and subsidy arrangements involved the Department for Transport (United Kingdom) and franchising policy debates tied to reports from entities such as the Rail Delivery Group.

Rolling Stock

The fleet comprised multiple classes including British Rail Class 43 (HST) sets for high-speed services, British Rail Class 222 Meridian units for intercity routes, and British Rail Class 158 and British Rail Class 170 diesel multiple units for regional services. Shorter branch services used British Rail Class 153 and refurbishment programs referenced rolling stock overhauls similar to past projects at Doncaster Works and Crewe Works. Maintenance and fleet allocation decisions were influenced by procurement frameworks and leasing arrangements with rolling stock companies such as Angel Trains, Porterbrook and Eversholt Rail Group.

Infrastructure and Depots

Operational bases and depots supporting EMT included major facilities at Derby Etches Park Depot, Nottingham Carrington Depot, and stabling points near London St Pancras railway station; infrastructure works were coordinated with Network Rail control rooms and regional maintenance teams. Depot activity connected to national railworks like those undertaken at Doncaster railway station and freight/route clearance projects impacting lines through Leicester railway station and Grantham railway station. EMT engaged with national signalling upgrades tied to schemes such as the European Rail Traffic Management System trials and collaborated with infrastructure projects related to High Speed 1 terminus operations at St Pancras International.

Performance and Safety

Performance metrics were published by the Office of Rail and Road and discussed in parliamentary oversight involving the Department for Transport (United Kingdom), with punctuality and reliability statistics compared to peers such as Virgin Trains and FirstGroup. Safety governance followed standards from bodies like the Rail Accident Investigation Branch and incidents prompted coordination with British Transport Police and local emergency services including Derbyshire Constabulary and Nottinghamshire Police. Major disruptions, timetable changes, and regulatory scrutiny involved stakeholders such as Passenger Focus (later Transport Focus) and industry forums like the Rail Safety and Standards Board.

Branding and Customer Experience

EMT employed livery and brand identity visible at hubs like Leicester railway station and onboard services between London St Pancras railway station and Skegness railway station; customer-facing innovations included ticketing aligned with national systems like Rail Settlement Plan and smartcard pilots resonant with schemes such as Oyster card. Passenger information and accessibility initiatives referenced guidance from Disability Rights UK and compliance with accessibility regulations shaped by the Equality Act 2010. Customer feedback and industry awards were mediated by organisations including Which? and Transport Focus, influencing amenities such as onboard catering, Wi-Fi trials, and station retail partnerships with brands operating in stations managed by entities like Network Rail.

Category:Defunct train operating companies of the United Kingdom