On board LNER trains: Azuma, classes and facilities

The Azuma fleet

Azuma is LNER's name for its Class 800 and Class 801 trains, based on Hitachi's AT300 design. The first entered passenger service on 15 May 2019 on the Leeds route, and the whole fleet was in service by May 2021. Class 800s are bi-mode units that can run on electric or diesel power; Class 801s are electric multiple units.

According to Wikipedia's fleet table there are 65 Azuma units: 23 bi-mode Class 800s and 42 electric Class 801s, in five-carriage and nine-carriage versions. Azumas can reach 125 mph.

Depending on the route and time of day, an Azuma may have five, nine or ten carriages. A ten-carriage train is two five-carriage units coupled together, and you cannot walk between the two halves, so board the right part of the train.

LNER: our trains (official)

Standard Class

Standard Class on an Azuma has a power socket at every seat, larger overhead racks and under-seat space than older trains, window blinds throughout and electronic seat reservation displays. Priority seats are generally at the ends of each carriage.

First Class

First Class has wider reclining seats, more legroom and bigger tables, power and USB sockets, and a complimentary food and drink service at your seat. First Class ticket holders can also use LNER's First Class lounges at stations, and well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in First Class.

If you have a Standard ticket you can sometimes upgrade: through your LNER account up to two hours before travel if you booked direct, on board with the Train Manager on off-peak services when seats are free, or by bidding through the Seatfrog app. Prices vary with the journey and method.

LNER First Class and upgrades (official)

Food and drink

Standard Class passengers can buy hot food, sandwiches, snacks and drinks from the Let's Eat Café Bar, or order to their seat by scanning the QR code on the table. LNER says it uses locally sourced food and drink from along its routes.

The café bar is in coach G on nine-carriage Azumas, coach B on five- and ten-carriage Azumas (a ten-carriage train has a café in coach G as well), and coach H on InterCity 225 trains.

LNER food and drink (official)

Wi-Fi and charging

Wi-Fi is free for everyone in Standard and First Class on all LNER trains. You connect to the LNER WIFI network and sign in with an LNER account. The service works over mobile data connections along the route, and streaming is restricted, so download films or programmes before you set off.

LNER Wi-Fi (official)

The quieter coach

LNER calls it the Quieter Coach: phone calls should be taken in the vestibule, conversations kept low and headphone music kept quiet. It is coach H on nine-carriage Azumas and coach B on InterCity 225 trains. Five- and ten-carriage Azumas do not have one, and there is no designated quieter coach in First Class.

LNER quieter coach (official)

New trains on order: Serenza

LNER has ordered ten new ten-carriage trains from the manufacturer CAF, financed by Porterbrook and classified as Class 897. In February 2026 LNER announced that they will be called Serenza. They are designed to run on electric, diesel or battery power, and LNER says they will be the first tri-mode long-distance trains in the UK.

Each train is planned to have 569 seats across Standard and First Class, a power socket and USB-C charging at every seat, digital information screens in each carriage, water bottle refill points and redesigned bike storage. LNER says they will replace its remaining InterCity 225 trains and will be introduced over the coming years; no firm date for passenger service had been published at the time of writing.

LNER announcement on Serenza (official)