The introduction of EMR’s new bi-mode Hitachi Class 810 Aurora train fleet has been severely delayed; they were meant to start running in 2022!  Covid interrupted things, of course, and testing identified issues with the first of the new trains that needed extensive rectification.
Promised starts in November 2025 did not happen and it began to look as though the first run would not be until the December 2025 timetable change. However, on 3rd December, Aurora unit number 810010 operated the first public duty for the type, the 07:00 Sheffield to St Pancras (which does not call at Market Harborough).  The same unit later worked the 17:05 St Pancras to Nottingham, calling at Market Harborough at 18:07 and thereby becoming our first Aurora service, and thus our first electric train.  However, the electrification only extends as far as Wigston South Junction, so the train was diesel powered by the time it arrived in Leicester. The changeover from electric to diesel takes place at speed and is almost unnoticeable.  We look forward to more Auroras being introduced into service over the next few months.

The AGM of Harborough Rail Users took place as planned on 26th November at the Methodist Church Centre in the town.
Steve Jones was re-elected as Chair, and the other officers and Committee were elected for the forthcoming year.  We were pleased to welcome another new member to our Committee.  The meeting noted with pleasure the forthcoming reinstatement from December 15th of a later last train back from London on weekdays, at 22:35 from St Pancras.  We also noted the improved bus connections at the station since June. We are hopeful a new operator for the station café can soon be found.
The priorities for the group were confirmed.  These are:

• The train service and connectivity.  We shall continue to press for earlier first trains on Sundays, especially given the unreliability of the present first southbound trains. Improved connections at Kettering onto the EMR Connect service are a priority.  Better connections at Leicester for Birmingham are also sought.
• The introduction of the new ‘Aurora’ bi-mode trains. Once all are in service, these will bring greater capacity plus more reliable wi-fi and seat reservations.  Moreover, their operational performance may give rise to reviews of the timetable.  HRU would want to take part in any consultations about future timetables and stopping patterns, for example, the potential for some Intercity calls at Bedford and Luton Airport Parkway. Both have an important interchange role, which for Bedford will greatly increase when East West Rail opens to Oxford and eventually Cambridge.
• Further improvements to the station, including reopening of the café, and landscaping works;
• Monitoring the operation of ANPR in the station car park. This may help to alleviate the lack of designated short-stay parking on the east side of the station. We also continue to seek covered cycle parking for occasional users for whom joining the Cycle Hub scheme is not worthwhile;
• Further integration of bus services with trains at Market Harborough, especially extension of the X3 bus route to and from the station;
• Maintaining a continued watching brief on the debate about reopening the Northampton line.
• Possibly joining a Community Rail Partnership should that come into existence for Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough, as has been proposed. Doing so would help strengthen links between ‘the railway’ and ‘the community’, in turn giving us another means of access to more influence on rail services etc. at Market Harborough.

The 2024-25 HRU Annual Report can be viewed here:  

The first of our new fleet of bi-mode trains, No.810008, has been officially accepted into EMR’s fleet.  This follows a process of testing and formal acceptance by the operator, and the unit officially joined the fleet on 8th August. 
The 33 Class 810 Hitachi Aurora trains will replace the current fleet of 27 Class 222 Meridian diesel trains, which will transfer to other operators.  Though each will have five cars, the same as most of the Meridians, they will have a greater seating capacity.  This plus the larger fleet will help to address the overcrowding that has returned to many services with the recovery of passenger numbers post-Covid.
Crew training is now under way on the new trains.  If you would like to see one in Market Harborough, go to the station for 14:20 on weekday afternoons.  At the time of writing, there is a regular empty stock run southbound. It starts at Derby Etches Park depot at 13:00 and runs across to Nottingham.  From there, it departs at 13:43 to run to St Pancras, calling at Leicester (dep 14:08), Kettering (14:30), and, interestingly, Luton (15:10). Remember, it is not for public use!  It passes through Market Harborough at 14:20, having changed from diesel to electric power at Wigston.  This means that regular electric trains are now running through Market Harborough!   
We look forward to the introduction of the new fleet into full service.

Waiting for trains is something we are all familiar with.  However, when they are years late, it starts to get really frustrating!  Though the electrification through Market Harborough is now fully complete, there are no electric trains yet to use it.  Our new fleet of Hitachi Class 810 Aurora bi-mode (electric and diesel) trains is under construction and the first ones have been on test.  However, though originally planned to enter service in 2022, it is likely to be 2026 before we see them. It had been hoped that the first ones would have been running in May 2025, but the official timing now is ‘as soon as possible’.  Service introduction depends not only on the trains themselves being available but on crew training as well. 
​Of particular concern to us in Harborough Rail Users is that some of our existing fleet of Meridian Class 222 diesel trains are due to leave EMR when the present lease expires later this year. These are already due to transfer to another operator.

An informal meeting was held in Market Harborough on 24th March between Laura Etheridge, EMR Stakeholder Manager, George Selby, EMR Lead Business Development Manager (on secondment to Stakeholder Engagement Team), and Steve Jones, Chair of Harborough Rail Users and Secretary of Railfuture East Midlands, and Phil Thomas, Chair of Railfuture East Midlands.  The aim was a general catch-up on current topics for EMR, including those of particular relevance to Market Harborough.
Among many matters discussed were:

• The recent management buy-out of EMR’s parent company Abellio UK, to form Transport UK (TUK).  This comprises the rail ex-franchises for EMR, WMT, Greater Anglia, Merseyrail (joint with Serco) plus some London bus routes.  
• The replacement of the previous EMR franchise with a National Rail Contract, starting in October 2022 and running for four years with a further four years at the option of the Department for Transport.  Though highly prescriptive, it does provide for annual business planning rather than the multi-year ‘lock-in’ that was a feature of franchising.
• The new ‘T-3’ performance target, which measures % of departures within three minutes of booked time at all stations.  EMR is currently at just under 78% overall, and is reviewing locations where performance can be most notably improved.  EMR Intercity and Connect are generally performing well; EMR Regional less so.
• Rolling stock, including the withdrawal in May of the four Class 180 trains on the Intercity route.  This will mean more intensive use of the Class 222 Meridians, which are the main Intercity fleet.  The new bi-mode (diesel + electric) Class 810 Aurora Intercity trains will enter service in 2024, with a phased introduction, eventually replacing all the Meridians.  On the Regional routes, the full replacement of ex-British Rail Sprinter trains by newer Class 170 Turbostars will be completed by the end of the year.  However, the withdrawal of the Class 180s means that summer weekend services to Skegness may be supplemented by buses at peak holiday times.
• The May 2023 timetable sees a further restoration of Regional services temporarily withdrawn during the Covid pandemic.  On the Intercity route, including Market Harborough, there is little change.  The two early morning replacement buses from Market Harborough (04:46, 04:59) to Kettering are withdrawn; and the St Pancras – Lincoln through services will start or terminate at Nottingham.  Also, sadly, the 09:45 St Pancras – Melton Mowbray via Corby and 14:43 return will no longer run north of Corby.  If you fancy a trip over Harringworth Viaduct around lunchtime, do it while you can!
• Various station improvements are either in hand or planned.  Leicester station is due to receive a major enhancement at street level, including a new entrance that faces towards the city centre, and better use of the handsome glazed porte cochere structure along the London Road frontage.  
• For Market Harborough specifically, we are hopeful that the booking hall café may soon reopen.  The station forecourt is due to be improved (see next item).  We also asked that connections at Leicester between our trains and those to Birmingham be improved; EMR noted this for future timetable planning.

We are grateful to EMR for being willing to discuss a wide range of matters.  It is clear that they are seeking to provide the best service they can within the stringent financial and other constraints within which they operate.