EMR lost property: How to get your missing item back

Daniel Clark

Published: May 2, 2025

Updated: Sep 3, 2026

EMR lost property: How to get your missing item back

Have you lost or misplaced your possessions on an East Midlands Railway (EMR) train or at an EMR station? The good news is that there’s a high chance your items will be returned through EMR lost property, so there’s no need to panic. In this article, we’ll explain the next steps you need to take for the best chance of getting your things back safely.

Photo by East Midlands Railway

How do I get my lost item back from EMR?

To submit an East Midlands Railway lost property claim, your first step is to notify the operator that you have lost something. On the EMR Lost Property portal, you will be able to provide all the details of your lost item(s), including colour, size, make and as many additional details as you can provide (e.g. distinguishing features).

Visit the EMR Lost Property portal here

EMR will send you a 4-digit reference number, which you should hold onto in case you need to contact them. The operator will then review your claim and keep you informed about the status of their search with daily email updates for the first week, and weekly messages for up to three months.

Although there may be a delay in your item(s) appearing, East Midlands Railway will let you know as soon as they find anything, so the operator requests that passengers only submit the form through the EMR lost property portal once.

EMR might also contact you to check specific details in cases where there are a number of similar items in their lost property database.

Where can I pick up my lost item from EMR?

Once EMR has located your missing item(s), the operator will send you an email with details of where it is. At this point, you will be asked to click the link in the email to let EMR know that you're coming to collect it. Usually, you will be able to collect your item from the place where it was found.

East Midlands Railway can hold items for up to three months; at the station location, they are held for the first month, then in a separate storage facility with Zero Burden Services (ZBS) for the remaining time.

For safety reasons, EMR lost property services include specific guidelines on the storage and handling of food and drink, which may be disposed of if they've deteriorated significantly or become a danger to health and safety. Likewise, credit or debit cards cannot be held for longer than 24 hours. Passports will be returned to the issuing office, and driving licences are returned to the DVLA.

EMR lost property contact number

The easiest way to submit a claim with EMR lost property is through the online portal. If you prefer to speak directly on the phone, you can call EMR on 03457 125 678 (lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Remember to quote your 4-digit reference number in all contact relating to your East Midlands Railway lost property case.

Other EMR lost property information

EMR holds onto lost property for three months, so do not delay in filing your lost property application through the online portal.
For arranging the collection of your property, EMR cannot move items between stations; however, it is possible to arrange for a courier to pick up an item for you (the option will be available when you click the email link).
If you have not received an email update from EMR regarding your lost property claim, check your spam folder and add eastmidlandsrailway@lostit-foundit.net to your contacts list. If the problem persists, you can contact EMR customer service through the details above.
Special conditions apply at some stations; for example, if you have lost an item travelling on EMR services to London St Pancras, you will need to log this with Excess Baggage, as EMR does not handle lost property at this station.

Other useful East Midlands Railway (EMR) pages

East Midlands Railway general information

EMR Season Ticket: Unlock cheaper, unlimited travel

EMR Off-Peak times: Travel cheaper on quieter services

EMR First Class: Everything you need to know

EMR Delay Repay: Claim compensation on late South East Midlands trains

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