To reduce the overcrowding problems on East Midlands Trains presently formed of four-car Class 222 sets, the company are set to embark on a major programme of reformations of the 222 fleet, reducing the eight-car sets to seven vehicles and inserting the removed car into the remaining four car sets. The reformation is not that straightforward, as at present EMT has nine four-car sets. The reformation will see one 'long' set No. 222007 reduced by three vehicles to a five car set, this will release sufficent intermediate vehicles to reform the four-car units to five cars.

By carrying out this work EMT will be improving capacity on the shortest sets working busy trains in the peak hours where it is needed.

The work is scheduled to be complete by 28 April 2008, with set 222007 already reduced to five-car formation by 17 March.

It is also understood that one additional HST set is now allocated to EMT use.

The revised service plan is shown below (Peak Periods).

Southbound services arriving into London St Pancras International before 10.00
Arrival Time Capacity alteration Train type
06.41 No capacity change 5 Car Meridian
07.06 No capacity change HST
07.36 No capacity change HST
07.59 No capacity change HST
08.06 Increased capacity 5+5 Car Meridian
08.24 Capacity reduction 7 Car Meridian
08.38 Capacity reduction 7 Car Meridian
08.42 No capacity change HST
08.55 No capacity change HST
09.06 Increased capacity 5+5 Car Meridian
09.29 No capacity change HST
09.33 No capacity change HST
09.45 No capacity change 5 Car Meridian

Northbound services departing from London St Pancras International in the
afternoon/evening departures between 1530 and 1900
Arrival Time Capacity alteration Train type
15.30 No capacity change 5 Car Meridian
15.55 Capacity reduction 7 Car Meridian
16.00 Increased capacity 5 Car Meridian
16.08 No capacity change HST
16.25 No capacity change HST
16.30 No capacity change 5 Car Meridian
16.55 No capacity change HST
17.00 Capacity reduction 7 Car Meridian
17.15 Increased capacity 5+5 Car Meridian
17.30 No capacity change HST
17.45 No capacity change HST
17.55 No capacity change HST
18.00 Increased capacity 5+5 Car Meridian
18.15 No capacity change HST
18.25 No capacity change HST
18.30 Increased capacity 5+5 Car Meridian
18.55 Capacity reduction 7 Car Meridian
19.00 No capacity change 5 Car Meridian