East Midlands Railway (EMR) is urging Nottingham travellers to check their travel plans ahead of the football fixtures and Eurovision finals due to strikes

East Midlands Railway’s (EMR) has urged customers who may be using the train to attend football fixtures or the Eurovision final to check how their trip is affected by rail strikes this week. Services will be significantly reduced and impacted as members of the RMT and ASLEF unions take industrial action over the weekend.

There will be no services on Friday, May 12 as members from the ASLEF union take industrial action. This strike specifically includes train drivers so therefore EMR trains will not be able to operate. This will also affect other train operating companies and services across the country.

EMR will also operate a significantly reduced service on Saturday, May 13 with trains only running between 7 am and 7 pm with last departures between 3 pm and 4:30 pm. This may affect those travelling for Eurovision viewing parties or heading into the city centre to join in the celebrations there.

Customers are being advised to travel only by rail if necessary and should be aware that strike action will affect other routes across the country. The latest updates will be available from EMR Website and customers will need to check their full journey before setting off.

Normal timetables will resume from Monday, May 15 until Saturday, May 20 which will cover the period that ASLEF has withdrawn non-contractual overtime. Trains may be subject to short-notice alterations and cancellations with planners updated on Wednesday, May 1.

There will be more rail strikes planned for the end of the month including early June.

Will Rogers, Managing Director for East Midlands Railway, said: “Customers who are considering using rail to attend football fixtures or the Eurovision final later this week are strongly advised to check when the time of their last train is before setting off and understand how the strike action affects their whole journey.

“Unfortunately, we will be unable to run any services on Friday and only a limited number on Saturday - where we are advising customers to plan ahead and only travel by rail if absolutely necessary.”