British Rail Class 442

The British Rail Class 442, known as the 5-WES Wessex Electrics, were electric multiple unit passenger trains introduced in 1988 by Network SouthEast on the South West Main Line from London Waterloo to Weymouth, to coincide with the electrification of the line from Bournemouth. Twenty-four five-car units were built by British Rail Engineering Limited at its Derby Litchurch Lane Works, on a body based on the British Rail Mark 3 carriage. After privatisation the fleet was sold to Angel Trains and worked for South West Trains until February 2007, then for Southern on Gatwick Express services and later for South Western Railway. The class holds the world speed record for a third rail train, having reached 109 mph on a test run before entering service.