Major UK rail company reveals new trains with lie-flat seats and free water fountains

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.

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.

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.’

‘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.

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.

‘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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