British Rail Class 442
The British Rail Class 442 Wessex Electric (or 5WES) electrical multiple units, were introduced in 1988 on the South Western Main Line from London Waterloo to Southampton Central, Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth. Twenty-four of these 5-car units were built between 1988 and 1989 by BREL at their Derby works. Their introduction coincided with the completion of electrification from Bournemouth to Weymouth. The entire fleet was operated by South West Trains up until February 2007, when the Class 442 services were replaced.
<British Rail Class 442 Wessex Electric | |
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![]() 442419 "BBC South Today" at London Waterloo on 19 July 2003. This train is painted in South West Trains Express livery | |
In service | 1988– 2020 |
Manufacturer | BREL |
Built at | Derby Works |
Family name | Mark 3-derived |
Number built | 24 trainsets |
Number in service | 8/17 trainsets |
Formation | 5 cars per trainset |
Capacity | (SWT) 266 standard class, 50 first class |
Operator(s) | South Western Railway |
Specifications | |
Car length | DTS - 23.15 m (75 ft 11.4 in) TSO/TSW/MLC - 23 m (75 ft) |
Width | 2.74 m (9 ft) |
Height | 3.81 m (12.5 ft) |
Maximum speed | 160 km/h (100 mph) |
Weight | Trainset total 202.84 t (199.64 long tons; 223.59 short tons) |
Traction system | 4 x English Electric 546 of 300 kW (402.31 hp) each |
Power output | 1,200 kW (1,610 hp) |
Power supply | Third rail electric Contact Shoe |
Electric system(s) | 750V DC |
Braking system(s) | Disc |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
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442402 "County of Hampshire" at Wool on 16 April 2004, with a South West Trains service from London Waterloo to Weymouth.
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442407 "Thomas Hardy" at Moreton on 10 April 2006. This unit carries the revised South West Trains livery with differently coloured doors that conforms with the Disability Discrimination Act.
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