#2358
British Rail Class 403
🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by Metro-Cammell· from 1932· class of 3 British 5-car Pullman electric multiple units
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1 photo from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. BB at Purley Oaks (1964): Tony Hagon· CC BY 3.0
what is it?
The Southern Railway (SR) gave the designation 5-BEL to the five-car all-Pullman electric multiple units which worked the prestigious Brighton Belle trains between London Victoria and Brighton. These units survived long enough in British Rail ownership to be allocated TOPS Class 403. Between 1933 and 1935 the units were designated 5-PUL (the 'PUL' code was then used for the 6-PUL units).
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 94 years ago, in 1932.
- 1.3 MW is about 16 family cars (~85 kW each) flat out.
- Served for 40 years (1932–1972).
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 1932
- in service from
- 1932
- retired
- 1972
- status
- retired
- number built
- 3
- kind
- multiple unit
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- builders
- Metro-Cammell
- operators
- Southern Railway, British Rail, Southern Region of British Railways
- top speed
- 121 km/h
- power
- 1.3 MW
- gauge
- 1,435 mm standard gauge
- electric system
- 660–750 V DC third rail
- formation
- 5-car set: DMBPT, Driving Motor Brake Pullman Third-TPFK, Trailer Pullman Kitchen First-TPFK-TPT, Trailer Pullman Third…
- capacity
- 40 passengers
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q12053613, Wikipedia: British Rail Class 403 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.