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Class 450 Desiro

Siemens' four-car Desiro, the most numerous train in SWR's fleet, on routes across the network from Waterloo. Up to three run together as twelve cars. Ordered as 100 four-car and 32 five-car units; the five-car units were cancelled in late 2003 and 10 more four-car units built instead, and 17 more followed in 2005-2006. Siemens refurbished the fleet in 2017-2020 (new seats and at-seat power; first class moved behind the cabs). Angel Trains lists the fleet as Classes 450/0 and 450/5.

Class 450 Desiro, indicative only

Class 450 Desiro · indicative drawing GB Trains · gbtrains.uk/stock/450/ · CC BY 4.0

indicative drawing: some dimensions are estimated, from photographs and published figures. The Class 360's measured Desiro body (from RAIB's Elstow report; both are Siemens Desiros with 66 ft 9 in (20.34 m) cars), in SWR's navy and silver, measured from photographs of 450026 (rectified) and of a 450 at Reading (2024). One side is drawn: the navy differs at the two ends, because the pattern repeats along the side. The front is the 360's, with the 450's gangway drawn ahead of it from photographs that aren't side on: its depth is indicative. The door edges are simplified. Branding left out: South Western Railway's SW/R monogram and wordmark, the 'First Class' lettering and the numbers. Drawn at 10 px per metre. Download SVG · Use this drawing

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Drawing: GB Trains, gbtrains.uk, CC BY 4.0

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Liveries 1

South Western RailwaySWR navy and silverShown above

Special liveries 1

Former liveries 1

South West Trains outer-suburban blueCarried from new in 2003; repainted into SWR's livery from November 2019, the 100th Desiro done in August 2022 (RailAdvent), with some units still in it in 2021-22.Formerfrom 2003Not drawn yet

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Type
Electric multiple unit
Builder
Siemens Transportation Systems
Family
Desiro UK, with Class 185 Desiro, Class 350 Desiro, Class 360 Desiro, Class 380 Desiro, Class 444 Desiro
Built
2002–2006
In service
since 2003
Operators
South Western Railway
Formation
4 cars
Trains in fleet
127
Fleets
South Western Railway: 127
Top speed
100 mph (161 km/h)
Power
750 V DC third rail · how it works
Bogies
Siemens SF 5000 bogies · drawn with the same bogie component as Class 185 Desiro, Class 350 Desiro, Class 360 Desiro, Class 380 Desiro, Class 444 Desiro
Train length
268 ft (81.60 m)
Car width
9 ft 2 in (2.80 m)
Seats per train
285
Total capacity
SWR: 269 standard and 16 first class. As built, 264 (24 first, 240 standard) in Siemens' 2003 data sheet, or 273 (24 first, 249 standard) in Siemens' 2006 reference list and the Southern Electric Group's per-car figures
Status
In service with South Western Railway (publicly owned since 25 May 2025): 127 units, leased from Angel Trains.

unverified Some of these figures haven’t yet been checked against an official source or a published history. What’s in doubt ↓

Car types

CodeCarLengthDoors per side
DMSODriving motor open (cab car): 8 first-class seats behind the cab since the 2017-2020 refurbishment66 ft 9 in20.34 m2 double
TCOTrailer open with a toilet (built as the composite, with 24 first-class seats; standard class only since the refurbishment)66 ft 9 in20.34 m2 double
TSOTrailer open with the accessible toilet and 2 wheelchair spaces66 ft 9 in20.34 m2 double

Sources

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Show the 37 sources from Wikimedia Commons, Siemens Transportation Systems, Angel Trains and 10 more
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