Jessica Lindsay
Published February 3, 2026 5:43pm
Updated February 3, 2026 5:43pm
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The new Serenza trains will replace older rolling stock, and service alongside LNER’s Azuma fleet (Picture: Getty Images)
At the moment, having a lie-down on a UK train probably means you’ve resorted to the floor of a full-to-bursting carriage.
But rail travel is soon to get a whole lot swankier for LNER passengers — and in a few years’ time, it may even feel more like flying with a high-end airline.
The operator recently shared a sneak peek of its fleet of 10 new trains, due to replace ageing rolling stock across the East Coast Main Line network.
These state of the art vehicles, introduced as part of the planned government-owned Great British Railways service, have been named Serenza; a play on the word serene designed to evoke ‘the feeling of peace and calm’.
And while it’s safe to say they aren’t adjectives you’d typically associate with cross-country train journeys, relaxation is definitely a focus here.
The fleet’s most premium offering, SAS Business Class, will feature 22 fully-flat bed seats, allowing travellers to get to their final stop feeling rested and refreshed.
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Standard class seats have been upgraded for comfort (Picture: LNER)
Premium class features adjustable headrests too (Picture: LNER)
There will also be new seating in SAS Plus and standard Go class, with reshaped cushions, upgraded side bolsters and larger head rests for more comfortable long-distance trips.
Free water refill stations and high-spec screens for live journey updates are also part of plans to enhance the on-board experience, along with a plug socket (including USB-C port) for every seat and an upgraded Café Bar with real-time digital menus showing stock availability.
According to London North Eastern Railway, the Serenza toilets have also been redesigned ‘with customer feedback in mind’, while various layout improvements geared towards disabled customers —from longer grab rails to braille seat numbers — were recommended by the Accessibility Forum.
No more paying for bottled water (Picture: LNER)
The loos have had a redesign too (Picture: LNER)
More space for luggage means less cramped carriages (Picture: LNER)
You’ll be able to see what’s available on digital screens (Picture: LNER)
That’s not all though; these trains come with additional luggage racks and better bike storage facilities, meaning hopefully (hopefully!) fewer seats will be taken up by people’s belongings.
The only downside? No official launch date has been set just yet, with the fleet set to be introduced ‘in the coming years, with further details to be released as the project progresses.’
LNER services
- London King’s Cross to Leeds
- via Peterborough, Grantham, Doncaster, Wakefield Westgate (one daily train extending to Skipton calling at Shipley and Keighley)
- London King’s Cross to Bradford Forster Square
- via Stevenage, Newark Northgate, Doncaster, Wakefield Westgate, Leeds, Shipley
- London King’s Cross to Harrogate
- via Stevenage, Newark Northgate, Doncaster, Wakefield Westgate, Leeds, Horsforth
- London King’s Cross to York
- via Peterborough, Retford, Doncaster (one daily train extending to Hull calling at Retford, Doncaster, Selby and Brough)
- London King’s Cross to Lincoln
- via Peterborough, Grantham, Newark Northgate
- London King’s Cross to Edinburgh Waverley
- via Peterborough, Newark Northgate, Doncaster, York, Darlington, Newcastle, Alnmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Morpeth and Dunbar (some trains extending to Aberdeem calling at Haymarket, Inverkeithing, Kirkcaldy, Leuchars, Dundee, Arbroath, Montrose, and Stonehaven, with one per day to Inverness calling ay Haymarket, Falkirk Grahamston, Stirling, Gleneagles, Perth, Pitlochry, Kingussie and Aviemore)
‘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,’ commented Dr Linda Wain, LNER engineering director.
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Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, added: ‘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.
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‘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.’
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