British DMU classification system
This is: a list of British Rail diesel multiple-unit train classes.
For a historical overview of diesel multiple unit train development in Great Britain, see British railcars and diesel multiple units.
Pre-nationalisation designsβ»
First Generationβ»
Early BR DMUs (79xxx series)β»
Manufacturer | Engines (per motor car) | Transmission | Type | Built | Quantity (sets) | Withdrawn | Notes | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BR Derby 'Lightweight' | 2 Γ Leyland 125 bhp (93 kW)/2 Γ AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) | hydraulic (2 car) or mechanical (single car) | low density | 1954-1959 | 217 vehicles | 1967-1969 | 7 vehicles survived in departmental stock until 1977-1994 | ![]() |
215 |
Metro-Cammell 'Lightweight' | 2 Γ AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) | mechanical | 1955-1956 | 36 sets | 79047 + 79053 survived in departmental stock until 1981. | ![]() |
All | ||
AC Cars Railbuses | 1 Γ AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) | railbus | 1958 | 5 | 1968 | ![]() |
3 (1 in preservation) | ||
Bristol-ECW Railbuses | 1 Γ Gardner 112 bhp (84 kW) | 2 | 1966 | All | |||||
Park Royal Railbuses | 1 Γ AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) | 5 | 1966-1968 | ||||||
Waggon and Maschinenbau Railbuses | 1 Γ BΓΌssing 150 bhp (112 kW) | 1966-1967 | 1 | ||||||
Wickham Railbuses | 1 Γ Meadows 105 bhp (78 kW) | 6 | 1966 | Elliot Track Recorder survived in departmental use until 1997 | ![]() |
5 |
TOPS classesβ»
Class | Manufacturer | Engines (per motor car) | Transmission | Type | Built | Quantity (sets) | Withdrawn | Notes | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 100 | Gloucester RC&W | 2 Γ AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) | mechanical | low density | 1957β1958 | 40 sets (80 cars) | 1969β1988 | 56315 used by, Fisons as a Weedkiller Vehicle until 1988 | ![]() |
About 79 (3 in preservation) |
Class 101 | Metro-Cammell | 1956β1960 | 527 sets | 1957 (1) 1978β2003 |
2 survived in departmental stock until 2009β2012 | ![]() |
About 502 (9 in preservation) | |||
Class 102 | 2 Γ Leyland 150 bhp (112 kW) | 106 sets | ![]() | |||||||
Class 103 | Park Royal | 2 Γ AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) | 1957 | 20 sets (40 cars) | 1972β1983 | 3 vehicles survived in departmental stock until 1985-1990 | ![]() |
About 19 (3 in preservation) | ||
Class 104 | Birmingham RC&W | 2 Γ Leyland 150 bhp (112 kW) | 1957β1959 | 302 cars | 1980β1995 | About 63 | ||||
Class 105 | Cravens | 2 Γ AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) | 1956β1959 | 302 cars | 1976β1988 | 6 vehicles survived in departmental stock until 1989β1990. | ![]() |
About 300 | ||
Class 106 | 2 Γ Leyland 150 bhp (112 kW) | |||||||||
Class 107 | BR Derby 'Heavyweight' | 2 Γ AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) | 1960 | 26 sets (78 cars) | 1973 (1) 1983β1992 |
6 vehicles survived in sandite use until 1995 | ![]() |
About 19 sets (66 cars) | ||
Class 108 | 2 Γ Leyland 150 bhp (112 kW) | 1958β1961 | 333 cars | 1964 (1) 1974 (1) 1990β1993 |
About 138 | |||||
Class 109 | D Wickham & Co | 1957β1958 | 5 sets | 1971 | ![]() |
4 | ||||
Class 110 | Birmingham RC&W 'Calder Valley' | 2 Γ Rolls-Royce C6NFLH 180 bhp (134 kW) | 1961β1962 | 30 sets | 1963 (3) 1971β1972 (3) 1983 (3) 1986β1991 |
![]() |
About 28 sets (85 vehicles) | |||
Class 111 | Metro-Cammell | 1957β1960 | 23 train sets | 1989 | Last unpowered car went in 2000 | ![]() |
About 23 (50 vehicles) | |||
Class 112 | Cravens | 1 Γ Rolls-Royce C8NFLH 238 bhp (177 kW) | 1959β1960 | 25 sets (50 cars) | 1968β1969 | ![]() |
All | |||
Class 113 | 1 Γ Rolls-Royce C8NFLH 238 bhp (177 kW) | hydraulic | 25 sets (50 cars) | ![]() | ||||||
Class 114 | BR Derby 'Heavyweight' | 2 Γ Leyland 230 bhp (172 kW) | mechanical | 1956β1957 (entered service 1960) | 50 sets (100 cars) | 1962 (1) 1965 (1) 1967 (prototype) 1970β1971 (6) 1984 (2) 1986β1992 |
54904 and 55929 survived as an ATP Test Unit (ADB 977775/6) until 2004. | About 48 sets (95 vehicles) | ||
Class 115 | BR Derby 'Suburban' | 2 Γ Albion 230 bhp (172 kW) | high density | 1960 | 41 four-car sets | 1991β1994 | ![]() |
About 30 sets (149 vehicles; 3 in preservation) | ||
Class 116 | 2 Γ Leyland 150 bhp (112 kW) | 1957β1961 | 310 cars | 1961 (1) 1983 (32) 1987β1995 |
2 convertedββto Class 130 | ![]() |
About (304 vehicles; 5 in preservation) | |||
Class 117 | Pressed Steel 'Suburban' | 1959β1961 | 123 cars | 1993β2000 | ![]() |
30 | ||||
Class 118 | Birmingham RC&W 'Suburban' | 1960 | 15 sets (45 cars) | 1994 | About 14 sets (44 cars) | |||||
Class 119 | Gloucester RC&W 'Cross-Country' | cross country | 1958 | 84 cars | 1992β1995 | ![]() |
About 28 sets (81 cars) | |||
Class 120 | BR Swindon 'Cross-Country' | 2 Γ AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) | 194 cars | 1989 | ![]() |
About 64 sets (193 cars) | ||||
Class 121 | Pressed Steel 'Bubble Car' | 2 Γ AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) | high density | 1960β1961 | 26 | 1978 (2) 1991β2017 |
Last first-generation DMU in service, 55022 still in departmental use | 12 (2 in preservation) | ||
Class 122 | Gloucester RC&W 'Bubble Car' | 2 Γ AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) | 1959 | 29 | 1979β1995 | 4 survived in departmental stock until 1998β2011. | 8 | |||
Class 123 | BR Swindon 'Intercity' | 2 Γ Albion 230 bhp (172 kW) | intercity | 1963 | 40 (Ten 4-car units) | 1984 | Buffets withdrawn in 1970. And a DMBS and "DMSK withdrawn in 1977 and 1979 respectively." | ![]() |
All | |
Class 124 | BR Swindon 'Trans-Pennine' | 2 Γ Albion 230 bhp (172 kW) | mechanical | 1960 | Eight 6-car sets, plus 3 spare cars | 1972 (3) 1975 1979β1984 |
![]() | |||
Class 125 | BR Derby 'Lea Valley' | 2 Γ Rolls-Royce C8NFLH 238 bhp (177 kW) | hydraulic | high density | 1958 | 20 three-car sets | 1971 (1) 1976β1977 |
59458/66 survived as fire test vehicles 975993/4 until 1986β1988. | ![]() | |
Class 126 | BR Swindon 'Intercity' | 2 Γ AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) | mechanical | intercity | 1959 | 22 | 1970 (1) 1973 (3) 1979β1982 |
![]() |
About 21 (62 cars; 3 in preservation) | |
Class 127 | BR Derby 'Bed-Pan' | 2 Γ Rolls-Royce C8NFLH 238 bhp (177 kW) | hydraulic | high density | 1959 | 30 sets (120 vehicles) | 1964 (1) 1966 (1) 1968 (1) 1972 (1) 1975β1977 (8) 1982β1993 |
22 rebuilt in 1985 | About 27 vehicles (112 vehicles; 3 in preservation) | |
Class 128 | Gloucester RC&W 'Parcels' | 2 Γ Albion 230 bhp (172 kW) | mechanical | parcels | 1959β1960 | 10 | 1971 (1) 1979β1980 (2) 1982 (2) 1990 |
![]() |
All | |
Class 129 | Cravens 'Parcels' | 2 Γ Leyland 150 bhp (112 kW) | 1955 (entered service 1958) | 3 | 1972β1973 | M55997 survived in departmental stock until 1986 | ||||
Class 130 | Parcels conversion from Class 116 | 1957β1961 (converted 1969) |
2 | 1972 | Parcels conversion from Class 116 | ![]() | ||||
Class 131 | Parcels conversion from Class 122 | 2 Γ AEC 150 bhp (112 kW) | 1959 (converted 1966, 1969 and 1971) |
3 | 1976 | Parcels conversion from Class 122 |
Second generationβ»
Lightweight railcarsβ»
Class | Manufacturer | Date Built | Number Built | Withdrawn | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 139 | Parry People Movers | 2008 | 2 Γ single cars | still in use | ![]() |
None |
Pacersβ»
Class | Manufacturer | Date Built | Number Built | Withdrawn | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leyland Prototypes |
BREL-Leyland | 1978-84 | 4 Γ single cars | 1978-1997 | ![]() |
None |
Class 140 | 1980 | 1 Γ 2-car set | 1981 | ![]() | ||
Class 141 | 1984 | 20 Γ 2-car sets | Britain 1997, Iran 2005 | ![]() |
4 (2 in preservation) | |
Class 142 | 1985-87 | 96 Γ 2-car sets | 2019β2021 | 52 | ||
Class 143 | Barclay-Alexander | 1985-86 | 25 Γ 2-car sets | 2020 | 5 | |
Class 144 | BREL-Alexander | 1986-87 | 13 Γ 2-car and 10 Γ 3-car sets | ![]() |
1 |
Sprintersβ»
Class | Manufacturer | Date Built | Number Built | Withdrawn | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 150 Sprinter |
BREL | 1984–7 | 135 Γ 2-car and 2 Γ 3-car sets | Still in use | 1 | |
Class 151 | Metro-Cammell | 1985 | 2 Γ 3-car units | 1989 | ![]() |
Both |
Class 152 | N/A | Never built | Proposed single car conversion of Class 156 | Never built | Never built | |
Class 153 Super Sprinter |
BREL-Leyland | 1991–2 | 70 Γ single cars (Converted from Class 155) | Still in use | None | |
Class 154 | BREL | 1985 | 1 Γ 3 car unit converted from Class 150 | Converted backββto Class 150 | ![]() | |
Class 155 Super Sprinter |
BREL-Leyland | 1987–8 | 42 Γ 2-car sets 7 Γ 2-car sets still in original form |
Still in use | ![]() | |
Class 156 Super Sprinter |
Metro-Cammell | 1987–9 | 114 Γ 2-car sets | |||
Class 157 Strathclyde Sprinter |
N/A | Never built | Proposed Strathclyde PTE Sprinter | Never built | Never built | |
Class 158 Express Sprinter |
BREL | 1989–92 | 165 Γ 2-car and 17 Γ 3-car sets | Still in use | None | |
Class 159 South Western Turbo |
1992–3 | 22 Γ 3-car sets |
Turbosβ»
Networkerβ»
Class | Manufacturer | Date Built | Number Built | Withdrawn | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 165 Networker Turbo |
BREL/ABB York | 1990–2 | 49 Γ 2-car and 26 Γ 3-car sets | Still in use | 1 | |
Class 166 Networker Turbo Express |
1992–3 | 21 Γ 3-car sets | None |
Turbostarβ»
Class | Manufacturer | Date Built | Number Built | Withdrawn | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 168 Clubman |
Adtranz/Bombardier, Derby | 1998–2004 | 9 Γ 3-car and 10 Γ 4-car sets | Still in use | ![]() |
None |
Class 170 Turbostar |
1998–2005 | 44 Γ 2-car and 89 Γ 3-car sets | ![]() | |||
Class 171 Turbostar |
Bombardier, Derby | 2003–04 | 9 Γ 2-car and 6 Γ 4-car sets | |||
Class 172 Turbostar |
2010–11 | 24 Γ 2-car and 15 Γ 3-car |
Coradiasβ»
Class | Manufacturer | Date Built | Number Built | Withdrawn | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 175 Coradia |
Alstom, Washwood Heath | 1999–2001 | 11 Γ 2-car and 16 Γ 3-car sets | 2023 | None | |
Class 180 Adelante |
2000–01 | 13 x 5-car sets and 1 x 4-car set (180 110) | Still in use | ![]() |
Desiroβ»
Class | Manufacturer | Date Built | Number Built | Withdrawn | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 185 Desiro | Siemens | 2005–06 | 51 Γ 3-car sets | Still in use | None |
Civityβ»
Class | Manufacturer | Date Built | Number Built | Withdrawn | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 195 Civity | CAF | 2017–20 | 25 Γ 2-car sets 33 Γ 3-car sets |
still in use | None | |
Class 196 Civity | 2019– | 12 x 2-car sets 14 x 4-car sets |
![]() | |||
Class 197 Civity | 2021– | 51 x 2-car sets 26 x 3-car sets |
![]() |
Diesel-electric multiple units (DEMUs)β»
Southern Region DEMUsβ»
Class | SR code | Built | Quantity (sets) | Withdrawn | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 201 | 6S | 1957-58 | 7 Γ 6-car sets | 1986 | About 5 | |
Class 202 | 6L | 9 Γ 6-car sets | ![]() |
About 8 (46 cars) | ||
Class 203 | 6B | 1958 | 7 Γ 6-car sets | 1990 | 5 | |
Class 204 | 2H/3T | 1957 | 4 Γ 3-car sets (formed using Class 205 and 206 cars) |
1987 | ![]() |
About 3 (19 vehicles) |
Class 205 | 2H/3H | 1957-62 | 4 Γ 2-car and 29 Γ 3-car sets | 1992β2004 | About 21 | |
Class 206 | 3R | 1964 | 6 Γ 3-car sets (formed using Class 201 and 416 cars) |
1979 | ![]() |
All |
Class 207 | 3D | 1962 | 19 Γ 3-car sets | 1990β2004 | ![]() |
About 16 |
Second Generationβ»
Class | Manufacturer | Date Built | Number Built | Withdrawn | Notes | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 210 | BREL, Derby | 1982 | 1 Γ 3-car and 1 Γ 4-car set | 1987 | mostly scrapped, with 1 carriage preserved and 2 carriages converted to Class 455 | ![]() |
4 carriages |
Class 230 D-Train |
Metro-Cammell (original builders) Vivarail (conversion) |
2015 (prototype) |
1 Γ 3-car set (prototype) 3 Γ 2-car 5 Γ 3-car |
still in use | Converted from former London Underground D78 Stock | ![]() |
None |
Class 231 FLIRT |
Stadler | 2021-22 | 11 Γ 4-car sets | still in use | |||
Class 769 Flex |
BREL, York Brush Traction (conversion) |
2017 | 35 Γ 4-car sets | still in use | Converted from Class 319 EMUs | ![]() |
Voyager-style express DEMUsβ»
Class | Manufacturer | Date Built | Number Built | Withdrawn | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 220 Voyager |
Bombardier, Bruges, Belgium | 2000-01 | 34 Γ 4-car sets | still in use | ![]() |
None |
Class 221 Super Voyager |
2001-02 | 4 Γ 4-car and 40 Γ 5-car sets | ![]() | |||
Class 222 Meridian/Pioneer |
2003β05 | 4 Γ 4-car, 7 Γ 9-car and 17 Γ 5-car sets | ![]() |
High-speed trainsβ»
Class | Manufacturer | Information | Date Built | Number Built | Withdrawn | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 251 | Metro-Cammell | Blue Pullman | 1959-1960 | 2 Γ 6-car 3 Γ 8-car |
1973 | ![]() |
All |
Class 252 | BREL | Prototype HST | 1972 | 1 Γ 10-car plus 2 spare coaches | 1982 | ![]() |
2 vehicles |
Class 253 | HST | 1975β1982 | 58 Γ 9-car | Still in use | ![]() |
22 | |
Class 254 | 36 Γ 10-car | ![]() | |||||
Class 255 | BREL | HST Challenger | 2002 (planned refurbishment) | 14 (planned) | Never built | Never built | |
Class 800 | Hitachi Kudamatsu & Newton Aycliffe |
Electro-diesel units designed with both pantograph for OHLE use and internal diesel powerplant for non-electrified lines | 2014-2019 | 46 Γ 5-car 13 Γ 9-car |
still in use | ![]() |
None |
Class 802 | Hitachi Kudamatsu & Pistoia |
2017-2020 | 27 x 5-car 7 x 9-car |
||||
Class 805 | Hitachi Newton Aycliffe | TBC | 13 x 5-car | Not In service Yet | |||
Class 810 | 33 Γ 5-car |
See alsoβ»
- List of British Rail electric multiple unit classes
- British Rail locomotive and multiple unit numbering and classification
- British Rail coach type codes
Referencesβ»
- ^ The all-time guide to the: UK Traction Classification System Part 3: Diesel Multiple Units - theββRailway Centre
- ^ Class 155 Super Sprinters
- ^ Fleet Survey - 156 Super-Sprinter
- ^ Rail magazine, "Bauer Media," Issue 766, February 2015
- ^ "Flex 319s to be, Class 769s". Today's Railways (187): 73. July 2017.
External linksβ»
Media related to Diesel multiple units, motor coaches and railcars of the United Kingdom at Wikimedia Commons