Driving Brake Standard Open

British Rail DBSO
Anglia Railways' DBSO 9701, at Colchester station in June 2003
In service1979–present
Manufacturer
Family nameBritish Rail Mark 2
Number built14 rebuilt
Number preserved3
Number scrapped2
Fleet numbers9701–9714
Operators
Specifications
Car length66 ft 0 in (20.12 m)
Width9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Height12 ft 9+12 in (3.899 m)
Maximum speed100 mph (160 km/h)
Weight33 long tons (33.5 t; 37.0 short tons)
Braking system(s)Air
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
InterCity liveried DBSO 9710, at Norwich station in January 2004
'ONE' liveried DBSO 9710, at Norwich station in April 2004
DBSO 9712, following conversion for use by NI Railways as 8918

A Driving Brake Standard Open (DBSO) is a type of railway carriage in Great Britain, converted to operate as a control car; this is not to be confused with DVTs, such as those in InterCity 225 sets. Fourteen such vehicles, numbered 9701 to 9714, were converted from Mark 2F Brake Standard Open (standard class coaches with brake van) carriages. Modifications included adding a driving cab and TDM equipment to allow a locomotive to be driven remotely. Using a system known as push–pull, the driver in the DBSO can drive the locomotive, even though it is at the opposite end of the train.