UK operator LNER has unveiled the interior design and fleet name of its next-generation East Coast Main Line trains, releasing the first images of the CAF-built Class 897 fleet set to replace the ageing InterCity 225s later this decade. The units are being billed as the UK’s first tri-mode long-distance trains and the first new fleet to enter service under Great British Railways branding.
The recently renationalised operator confirmed that the 10 new intercity units, built by CAF and financed by Porterbrook, will be branded ‘Serenza’, and published a series of interior renders showing seating, accessibility features, bike storage and passenger information systems, offering a first look at how the Class 897s will appear under Great British Railways branding.
The LNER trains will be the UK’s first tri-mode long-distance trains, capable of operating under overhead electric power, on diesel engines, or using onboard batteries where wires are not available. LNER says this will allow the fleet to operate flexibly across its nearly 1,000-mile network, while cutting diesel use during station approaches and departures.
Each 10-car train will offer 569 seats across Standard and First Class, including wheelchair spaces with companion seating. The fleet is designed to support continued passenger growth on the ECML, where LNER carried more than 24 million passengers in 2024–25, following the introduction of a new December 2025 timetable that added around 60,000 extra seats per week.
New LNER ECML trains at a glance
What’s coming:
- 10 new long-distance intercity trains for the East Coast Main Line
- Built by CAF, financed by Porterbrook
- Classified as Class 897, branded ‘Serenza’
Why they matter:
- First tri-mode long-distance fleet in the UK (electric, diesel, battery)
- Intended to be the first new fleet introduced under Great British Railways
- Designed to support continued passenger growth on the ECML
Train formation:
- 10-car sets
- 569 seats per train, including wheelchair and companion spaces
- Replacing LNER’s InterCity 225 fleet, now nearing 40 years old
Interior & passenger experience:
- Redesigned seating in all classes, with reclining seats in First Class
- New digital passenger information screens throughout
- Plug sockets at every seat, plus USB-C charging
- Five water refill stations per train
- Softer lighting, with mood and table lighting in First Class
Accessibility & onboard layout:
- Developed with LNER’s Accessibility Forum
- Majority of 47 recommendations implemented
- Improved wheelchair spaces, assistance-dog provision, braille seat numbers
- Redesigned bike storage and additional luggage racks near wheelchair areas
Operations & sustainability:
- Battery use on non-electrified sections to cut diesel consumption
- Can operate across LNER’s ~1,000-mile network
Timeline:
- Entry into service planned later this decade, with further details to follow
What can passengers expect?
Interior images show a clear step-change from the existing Azuma fleet, with redesigned seat padding, wider headrests and bolsters, and reclining seats in First Class. Materials have been selected with durability and sustainability in mind, while softer lighting, including mood and table lighting in First Class, is intended to improve comfort on early morning and evening services.
Digital customer information screens will be installed in every carriage, displaying live journey and safety information, alongside features such as five water bottle refill stations per train and USB-C charging at seats and tables.
Accessibility has been a major design focus. LNER says it worked closely with its Accessibility Forum, implementing the majority of 47 recommendations, including larger wheelchair tables, improved layouts for assistance dogs, full-length grab rails through the Café Bar, braille seat numbering and clearer accessible-toilet signage. Bike storage areas have also been fully redesigned, with new strap systems shown in the images to allow quicker and easier loading.
The Class 897 fleet will be the first new trains introduced under Great British Railways, and will carry GBR branding internally and externally. While most of the interior design is now fixed, LNER said minor changes may still be made ahead of final design freeze, with further details to be released as the project progresses.