Monday February 2nd 2026
First class seating on the LNER Class 897 fleet
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
LNER has introduced a new generation of ‘comfort and speed’ as they unveil details on 10 state-of-the-art intercity trains coming to the East Coast Main Line.
LNER has released a fleet name and the latest interior images of the trains, built by manufacturer CAF and financed by Porterbrook, to show customers what they can expect following their introduction to the UK rail network in the coming years.
The new fleet will help support and accommodate strong demand for rail travel on the East Coast Main Line, which runs from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh. Since Covid, LNER has seen a year-on-year increase in customers, with more than 24 million customers in 2024-25.
The introduction, in December 2025, of a new, transformative timetable has brought an extra 60,000 seats per week across the route, and new CAF-built trains aim to further grow capacity and reliability.
As the UK’s rail industry progresses towards Great British Railways (GBR), the Class 897 trains will be the first new fleet introduced as part of GBR.
The trains will be operated under Great British Railways and will be branded as such on their interior and exterior.
To help them stand apart from the existing Azuma fleet, the new Class 897 trains will be named ‘Serenza’. The name is a hybrid of ‘serene’ and the Spanish-style suffix ‘-enza’, evoking a feeling of peacefulness and calm, combined with energy, movement, and modernity.
The new Class 897 trains will be the first long distance trains in the UK to be tri-mode, meaning they are able to run on overhead electric power, alongside diesel engines and batteries when there are no overhead wires.
The 10 carriage trains will each have a total of 569 seats across Standard and First Class, alongside wheelchair spaces with companion seating.
LNER explained that the interior design has been developed with customer and stakeholder feedback in mind to deliver a great customer experience.
Customers will benefit from improved seating comfort in both Standard and First Class, with the ability to recline in First Class. New and enhanced seat pads have been developed, side bolsters and head cushions widened, and cushions reshaped to best support customers. Seat materials have also been carefully selected to maximise durability and sustainability.
New digital screens in each carriage will keep customers up to date with the latest live journey and safety information. Customers will also be able to stay hydrated on the move with the new introduction of five water bottle refill stations throughout the train.
For cyclists, LNER has listened to and acted on feedback, fully redesigning bike storage areas with easy-to-use bike straps enabling customers to quickly and efficiently secure their bike while travelling by train.
Luggage and bike storage area onboard the new LNER trains
New, softer lighting, including mood and table lighting in First Class, has been designed to provide customers with a more comfortable journey, especially when travelling during early mornings and evenings.
Dr Linda Wain, Engineering Director at LNER, said:
“This is an exciting milestone for LNER as we reveal an insight into what our customers can expect from their journeys in the future and unveil a name. Our new fleet will bring more comfortable, more reliable, and greener journeys across the East Coast Main Line for decades to come and we are looking forward to their introduction in the coming years.
“Reaching this stage has taken a huge amount of work and it has been great to work in partnership with CAF as we design this new fleet of trains. As LNER continues to welcome more customers onboard, these trains will be vital in helping to meet demand for train travel while delivering a new, modern experience for our customers.”
Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, said:
“We’re investing in our railways and bringing train operators into public ownership to put passengers back at the heart of what the railway does. This new fleet will be introduced under Great British Railways and will make travel even better for passengers.
“A better, more attractive railway will drive economic growth, jobs and homes along the entire East Coast Main Line, and follows the new ECML timetable which is transforming journeys by unlocking thousands of extra seats and more cheap fares.”
LNER also explained that they have worked closely with its Accessibility Forum to introduce new features on the Class 897 fleet to make journeys easier for disabled customers and those needing additional assistance.
Tables have been redesigned to give more room for wheelchair users, seat legs have been moved, creating additional space for assistance dogs, a grab rail has been installed along the full length of the Café Bar, additional luggage racks will be in carriages with wheelchair spaces to reduce the likelihood of luggage misuse, and braille seat numbers will feature helping visually impaired customers find their seat more easily.
Overall, a total of 47 recommendations were made by the panel, with the vast majority acted upon and included in the design.
As with the LNER Azuma trains, each seat will have its own plug socket, along with the introduction of USB-C ports for phone charging. At table seats, sockets and USB-C ports will feature in a power bar on the tabletop.
For Standard Class customers, there will be a new and improved Café Bar. Digital menu screens will show, in real-time, what is available to be enjoyed.
[photo-sc cap=”New cafe bar area on the LNER Class 897 fleet”]
Toilet facilities have been redesigned, featuring an improved wash basin design, baby changing tables, and clearer signage in accessible toilets.
The new Class 897 trains will replace LNER’s InterCity 225 fleet, which is close to 40 years old. The East Coast stalwarts have carried hundreds of millions of customers over their lifetime and are now in their swansong years.
The new fleet will be introduced in the coming years, with further details to be released as the project progresses.
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