#4532
British Rail Class 489
🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by British Rail· from 1984· class of British electric multiple unit
3 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. 9107 at Wirksworth: Original uploader was Our Phellap at en.wikipedia· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2. Class 489 68500 at Wirksworth on The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway 200924: The Basingstoker· CC BY-SA 2.0
- 3. Class 489 68506 at Wirksworth on The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway 200924: The Basingstoker· CC BY-SA 2.0
what is it?
The British Rail Class 489 (GLV) electric multiple units were specially converted for use on Gatwick Express trains, from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport. The units were converted from Class 414 driving motors cars, by Eastleigh Works in 1983-84, for use on the new Gatwick Express service. They were used to allow push-pull operations, on the London-end of the rakes of Class 488 stock, with a Class 73 locomotive at the other end and both used for propulsion.
who runs it
base stats
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 42 years ago, in 1984.
- Top speed is 1.1× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
- 370 kW is about 4 family cars (~85 kW each) flat out.
- Weighs about as much as 7 African elephants (~6 t each).
- 19.2 m long: about 4 cars parked nose to tail.
- Served for 21 years (1984–2005).
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 1984
- in service from
- 1984
- retired
- 2005
- status
- retired
- number built
- 10
- kind
- multiple unit
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- builders
- British Rail
- operators
- Gatwick Express, British Rail
- top speed
- 145 km/h
- power
- 370 kW
- gauge
- 1,435 mm standard gauge
- electric system
- 660-750 V DC third rail
- formation
- Single car (DMLV, Driving Motor Luggage Van)
- length
- 19.2 m
- weight
- 40.5 t
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q4970822, Wikipedia: British Rail Class 489 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.