New LNER Trains Put Comfort and Small Extras First
London North Eastern Railway (LNER) has revealed first-look images of its new Class 897 trains, showing a clear shift towards onboard comfort and practical upgrades. The fleet will operate on the East Coast Main Line and replace the long-serving InterCity 225 trains. While no launch date has been confirmed, the new trains signal a change in how longer rail journeys across eastern England are expected to feel.
A key feature across all classes is the addition of free water bottle refill stations, with five installed throughout each train. This removes the need to buy bottled water onboard and supports longer journeys without repeated café visits. Seating has also been redesigned, with enhanced seat pads, wider head cushions and improved side support intended to make time spent onboard more comfortable.
What the new Class 897 trains include
- Five free water refill stations per train
- Improved seating in all classes
- Reclining seats and softer lighting in First Class
- Plug sockets and USB-C ports at every seat
- Digital journey screens in each carriage
Standard Class will include a redesigned Café Bar, allowing passengers to see which snacks and drinks are available via digital menu screens. In First Class, seats will recline fully, with softer table and ambient lighting designed to suit early departures and late-evening services. Elsewhere on the train, bike storage and toilets have been reworked, while wheelchair spaces now offer more legroom and dedicated space for assistance dogs.
The upgrades apply to services running out of London King’s Cross towards Leeds, York, Bradford Forster Square and Skipton. Water refill stations remove the need to purchase drinks during the journey, while revised seating and built-in power sockets support longer stays onboard. Tables in wheelchair spaces have been adjusted to create additional clearance, with space provided for assistance dogs.