#4583· BR Class 143

British Rail Class 143

🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by Andrew Barclay Sons & Co.· from 1985· Diesel Hydraulic Multiple Unit Train

6 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. Exeter Central - GWR 143611 Exmouth service: Geof Sheppard· CC BY-SA 4.0
2. GB Class 143 dmu 143603 (uncropped): Chris McKenna· CC BY-SA 4.0
3. Class 143 Pacer DMU: Samson Ng . D201@EAL· CC BY-SA 4.0
4. Sir Tom Jones (4350663295): Ben Salter from Wales· CC BY 2.0
5. Sir Tom Jones at Pontypridd railway station 5Y53 - 16525280143: train_photos· CC BY-SA 2.0
6. Sir Tom Jones at Pontypridd railway station 5Y53: train_photos· CC BY-SA 2.0

what is it?

British Rail Class 143 Pacer diesel multiple unit passenger trains were introduced between 1985 and 1986. During the 1980s, British Rail (BR) was interested in replacing its first-generation diesel multiple units, particularly in the use of railbuses to service its lightly used branch lines. It was decided to develop such a vehicle with a high level of commonality with the widely used Leyland National bus, leading to its modular design serving as the basis for the design.

who runs it

Great Western Railway

base stats

speed 121 km/htop speed
power 168 kWpower output
weight 24 tin working order
seats 122passengers
built 25made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

First built 41 years ago, in 1985.
Weighs about as much as 4 African elephants (~6 t each).
15.6 m long: about 3 cars parked nose to tail.
Seats 122: 2 full city buses (~50 seats each).
Served for 36 years (1985–2021).

multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.

spec sheet

built: 1985
in service from: 1985
retired: 2021
status: retired
number built: 25
kind: multiple unit
traction: diesel
origin: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
builders: Andrew Barclay Sons & Co., Walter Alexander Coachbuilders
operators: Great Western Railway
top speed: 121 km/h
power: 168 kW
gauge: 1,435 mm standard gauge
formation: Two cars per unit: DMS, Driver's cab, motor car, standard class saloon-DMSL, Driver's cab, motor car, standard class sa…
length: 15.6 m
weight: 24 t
capacity: 122 passengers
Dutch name: BR Class 143

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q3303764, Wikipedia: British Rail Class 143 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.