British Rail Class 897

The British Rail Class 897 Serenza is a type of tri-mode electro-diesel multiple unit to be manufactured by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles for London [North Eastern Railway]. Ten ten-car units will be built, powered by 25 kV AC [railway electrification|25kV 50Hz electrification], as well as battery and diesel power.

History

In 2013, the Department for Transport ordered 30 British [Rail Class 801|Class 801s] to replace the same number of InterCity 225s on East [Coast Main Line] services. However after Virgin Trains East Coast was awarded the InterCity East Coast franchise in 2015 with a commitment to introduce extra services, some InterCity 225s were retained.
In October 2020, London North Eastern Railway issued a tender for 10 electro-diesel multiple units to replace its remaining InterCity 225s. In November 2023, LNER placed an order with CAF for ten ten-carriage sets to be built on its Civity platform. The first two will be built in Spain, the other eight at Newport. The trains will be able to run on 25kV 50Hz electrification, battery and diesel power. They will be maintained at Neville Hill TMD.
In January 2026, LNER showed off the proposed interior design of the train, and announced that they plan to brand the fleet as Serenza, a portmanteau of the word "Serene" and the "Spanish-style suffix '-enza'".