LNER Details 569-Seat Class 897 Tri-Mode Fleet for East Coast

London North Eastern Railway (LNER) has released the initial visual and functional specifications for its new Class 897 fleet. The trains, manufactured by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) and financed by Porterbrook, will be named “Serenza” and are scheduled for deployment on the East Coast Main Line in the coming years.

The fleet acquisition addresses rising passenger demand on the UK’s eastern corridor. LNER passenger volume exceeded 24 million in the 2024–2025 fiscal year, and a December 2025 timetable change added approximately 60,000 seats per week to the service. The Class 897 is specified to support this growth through increased capacity and operational reliability.

Each train will consist of 10 carriages, providing 569 seats across Standard and First Class, in addition to dedicated wheelchair spaces with companion seating. The Class 897 will be the first tri-mode long-distance train in the United Kingdom. Its powertrain can draw from overhead electric lines, onboard diesel engines, or battery storage, enabling full operational coverage of LNER’s nearly 1,000 km route network. This capability is intended to reduce diesel engine use, particularly during entry and exit from non-electrified stations.

Interior design was developed with input from LNER’s accessibility advisory group, which resulted in 47 recommendations. Most of these were incorporated into the final design. Modifications include completely redesigned bicycle storage areas with easy-to-use fastening systems and the installation of additional luggage racks in carriages with seating for people with reduced mobility to mitigate improper use of wheelchair spaces.

The “Serenza” fleet is set to replace the InterCity 225 trains, which are approaching the end of a service life spanning nearly 40 years. The Class 897 units will be the first new fleet to enter service during the Great British Railways (GBR) era and will bear the GBR corporate visual identity. The name “Serenza” was selected through a process involving LNER employees, and a trademark application has been filed with the Intellectual Property Office.

The interior design is reportedly near completion, with only minor adjustments possible before finalization. LNER has stated it will provide further information as the introduction date approaches, though verification data confirms that precise dates for entry into service and project costs have not been disclosed.