East Midlands Railway (EMR) operates Intercity and Regional train services across the East Midlands and other parts of the UK. EMR operates services linking London to cities like Nottingham and Leicester. Other major destinations on the network include Derby, Sheffield, Liverpool, Norwich, Lincoln and Skegness.
East Midlands Railway took over the East Midlands franchise in August 2019, replacing East Midlands Trains. EMR Connect provides services between Corby and London St Pancras, while the Luton Airport Express provides a convenient connection between London and Luton Airport.
There are several ways to find cheaper East Midlands Railway tickets. East Midlands Railway tickets usually go on sale 3 months early. EMR tickets usually go on sale 3 months before travel. Tickets are usually available 3 months before travel. Advance tickets usually go on sale three months ahead. Advance tickets usually go on sale 3 months prior. Advance tickets tend to be cheaper when first released. Advance tickets sell out quickly on busy routes. Advance tickets must be purchased before boarding the train. Advance tickets offer significant savings compared to regular fares. Book tickets early to benefit from lower advance fares in the UK.
Travelling outside peak hours can also reduce fares. Off-Peak travel times can significantly reduce ticket prices. Railcards provide up to 1/3 off Off-Peak train tickets. Railcards cost £35 for unlimited use. Railcards cost £35 and provide 1/3 off Off-Peak fares. Discounts are available for children and elderly people. GroupSave allows 3-9 passengers to save 1/3 on Off-Peak tickets. GroupSave offers 1/3 off Off-Peak tickets for groups.
Digital tickets make travelling easier. Instant e-tickets are available for UK rail travel purchases. 94% of customers prefer using mobile tickets. E-tickets allow you to skip the queues at ticket machines. E-tickets can be opened as a PDF on phones. Using digital tools can help UK rail travellers find cost-effective ticket options. Cost-conscious travellers prefer digital options for purchasing tickets on the UK rail network.
East Midlands Railway Train Map
Take a look at the East Midlands Railway network map to see the main routes and stations served by EMR. The network includes Intercity services to London St Pancras, Regional routes across the East Midlands and beyond, and EMR Connect services towards London and Luton.
Click on the Image and Zoom In to have a better view...
Top East Midlands Railway Destinations
East Midlands Railway Customer Relations
Telephone: 03457 125 678
Email: contact@eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk
Assisted Travel: 08000 11 33 23
WhatsApp: +44 7501 330988
Post: EMR Customer Service Centre, Locomotive House, Locomotive Way, Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8PU
Lost property: Lost items can be reported through the lost property page on the East Midlands Railway website.
Passengers requiring extra assistance can contact EMR before their journey for help boarding or leaving a train, making connections and moving around participating stations.
Temporary EMR Timetable
East Midlands Railway may introduce temporary timetables when engineering work, operational problems, or other disruptions prevent the usual service from operating.
Temporary changes can affect departure times, the number of trains running and where individual services start or finish. Replacement buses may also be provided when part of a rail route is closed.
EMR also makes permanent timetable changes periodically to improve services and connections. Train times change on 14 December, improving inter-regional connections. EMR's timetable changes improve inter-regional connections.
EMR has increased the number of carriages on Regional routes by 50% since 2019. EMR increased the number of carriages on Regional routes by 50%.
Check the EMR timetable page for the train times applicable on your chosen date before travelling.
Service Disruptions
Before travelling, it is worth checking whether your East Midlands Railway train is running normally. Services can be disrupted by planned engineering work, signalling problems, bad weather, train faults and incidents on the railway.
Trespass can also cause trains to be delayed or cancelled with little warning. The East Midlands Railway service information page provides details of delays, cancellations and alterations affecting the network.
If disruption is planned in advance, services may run at different times or replacement buses may operate for part of the journey.
Delay Repay
Passengers whose East Midlands Railway journey is delayed by 15 minutes or more may be entitled to compensation through Delay Repay.
The amount of compensation depends on the length of the delay and the tickets used. If a delayed train causes you to miss a connection, the delay is normally calculated based on your arrival time at your final destination.
Claims should normally be submitted within 28 days. Keep your ticket or other proof of travel when making your claim.
More information is available on the East Midlands Railway Delay Repay page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns East Midlands Railway?
East Midlands Railway is operated by Transport UK Group under contract with the Department for Transport. Transport UK was previously known as Abellio UK.
Where do East Midlands Railway trains go?
East Midlands Railway operates services across the East Midlands and to destinations elsewhere in England.
Its main Intercity route connects London St Pancras with Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, Chesterfield and Sheffield. Regional services travel to destinations including Lincoln, Peterborough, Skegness, Liverpool and Norwich.
EMR Connect also provides services between Corby and London St Pancras via stations including Kettering, Wellingborough and Bedford.
How fast do East Midlands Railway trains go?
EMR's fastest Intercity trains are capable of travelling at up to 125mph. Actual train speeds depend on the route, stopping pattern, signalling and other traffic on the railway.
Do East Midlands Railway trains have WiFi?
Free WiFi is available on East Midlands Railway Intercity services to and from London St Pancras.
Facilities on Regional trains can vary depending on the type of train, so check the onboard facilities page if WiFi is important for your journey.
Does East Midlands Railway have First Class?
Yes. First Class is available on EMR Intercity services to and from London St Pancras.
First Class passengers benefit from larger seats, more space and bigger tables. Complimentary refreshments are also available on qualifying services, although the exact onboard service can vary.
Can you take bikes on East Midlands Railway trains?
Yes. Bikes can be taken on East Midlands Railway trains, although the number of cycle spaces is limited.
Reservations are required for some Intercity services and are recommended whenever available. Restrictions can also apply during peak hours.
Folding bikes can normally be carried on board as luggage when folded and stored safely.
How do I claim compensation for a delayed EMR train?
If an EMR train causes you to arrive at your final destination at least 15 minutes late, you may be entitled to Delay Repay compensation.
Use the East Midlands Railway Delay Repay page to enter the details of your journey and provide your ticket or other proof of travel.
Does East Midlands Railway go to Luton Airport?
Yes. EMR serves Luton Airport Parkway, where passengers can connect with the Luton DART for London Luton Airport.
Luton Airport Express takes about 32 minutes from St Pancras. The Luton DART provides the connection between Luton Airport Parkway and the airport terminal.
E-tickets include the Luton DART transit to the airport when an appropriate through ticket to Luton Airport has been purchased.
Will Rogers East Midlands Railway?
Will Rogers became Managing Director of East Midlands Railway in January 2020. He led EMR during a period that included the introduction of new services, fleet changes and improvements across the network.
He left the Managing Director role in July 2026.
Are there trespassers on the railway today?
Trespass incidents can affect trains at short notice, so check the East Midlands Railway service information page for current disruption before travelling.
Are East Midland trains running?
East Midlands Railway runs services throughout the week, but individual trains can be delayed, altered or cancelled.
Check live departures for your station and route before setting off.
Split ticketing is another way of reducing the price of some rail journeys. Split ticketing involves purchasing multiple tickets for one journey. Instead of buying one ticket covering the entire route, separate tickets are purchased for different sections of the same journey.
You do not normally need to change trains when using split tickets, provided your train stops at the station where one ticket ends and the next begins.
Split ticketing services typically do not charge booking or card fees. Split ticketing can save up to 90% on fares. Average savings from split ticketing are around 26%. Regular commuters and casual travellers can benefit from split ticketing to save money. Split My Fare is a platform specialising in split ticketing. Split ticketing is a common practice among cost-conscious travellers.