#5290· Class 450
British Rail Class 450
🇩🇪 Germany ·built by Siemens Mobility· from 2003· British class of electric multiple unit train
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4 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. 450014 newly named "King Athelstan" at Kingston Bay Platform 04 09 25 (54765278479): Foulger Rail Photos from Basingstoke, UK· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2. 20230527 SWR 450054: Alex Noble· CC0
- 3. Desiro 450015: Geof Sheppard· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 4. Eastleigh - SWR 450027: Geof Sheppard· CC BY-SA 4.0
what is it?
The British Rail Class 450 Desiro is a type of third-rail DC electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger train that entered service during 2003. Used for outer-suburban services, the units were built with both first- and standard-class accommodation. They have a maximum speed of 100 mph (160 km/h).
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 23 years ago, in 2003.
- Top speed is 1.2× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
- At full speed it would cover Amsterdam–Utrecht (≈ 40 km) in 15 minutes.
- Still in service after 23 years.
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 2003
- in service from
- 2003
- status
- in service
- number built
- —
- kind
- multiple unit
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- builders
- Siemens Mobility
- operators
- South West Trains, South Western Railway
- top speed
- 161 km/h
- power
- —
- Dutch name
- Class 450
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q918235, Wikipedia: British Rail Class 450 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.