The Class 398 ''Citylink'' is a fleet of 36

tram-train A tram-train or dual-system tram is a type of light rail vehicle that both meets the standards of a light rail system, and also national mainline standards. Tramcars are adapted to be capable of running on streets like an urban tramway but a ...

multiple units being built for

Transport for Wales Rail Transport for Wales Rail Limited, branded as Transport for Wales and TfW Rail ( and ), is a Welsh State-owned enterprises of the United Kingdom, publicly owned train operating company, a subsidiary of Transport for Wales (TfW), a Welsh Governme ...

by Swiss rolling stock manufacturer

Stadler Rail Stadler Rail AG is a Swiss manufacturer of railway rolling stock, with an original emphasis on regional train multiple units and trams, but moving also into Rapid transit, mass rapid transit, High-speed rail, high speed, Inter-city rail, interci ...

. The units will be equipped with traction battery packages, allowing them to operate over non-electrified sections of track in addition to those with overhead supplies.

History

Mock_up_of_the_outside_of_a_Class_398_tram-train

Mock_up_of_the_inside_of_a_Class_398_tram-train

The Wales & Borders rail franchise was awarded to

KeolisAmey Wales Keolis Amey Operations (), Full legal name is bilingual including the Welsh name, as "Keolis Amey Operations / Gweithrediadau Keolis Amey Limited". trading as Transport for Wales Rail Services (TfW Rail Services) was a Welsh train operating c ...

in May 2018 and commenced on 14 October 2018. The franchise award included a requirement that the operator perform a full replacement of its fleets; as part of which process an order was placed with Stadler for delivery by 2023 of 36 tram-train units that would be capable of running on existing lines and also under battery power on the streets of Cardiff. All units are three cars and are able to be coupled together to form a six car unit. Each three car unit has a maximum passenger capacity of 256, units will have level boarding, space for bikes, wheelchairs and pushchairs. All seats will have access to plug and USB-A style sockets. The first unit to arrive in the UK was 398001, delivered from the Valencia works to the Rail Innovation & Development Centre in Melton, Leicestershire for testing on the

Old Dalby Test Track The Old Dalby Test Track is a railway in the United Kingdom which is used for testing new designs of trains and railway infrastructure. It runs between Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire and Edwalton, on the course of the Midland Railway's route betw ...

. The first unit was delivered to Taff's Well depot on 21 March 2023. TfW have stated that entry into service is planned for 2025.

Operator

Transport for Wales

When built,

Class 398 units will operate services on the

Rhondda Rhondda , or the Rhondda Valley ( ), is a former coalmining area in South Wales, historically in the county of Glamorgan. It takes its name from the River Rhondda, and embraces two valleys – the larger Rhondda Fawr valley (, 'large') and t ...

Merthyr Merthyr Tydfil () is the main town in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, Wales, administered by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. It is about north of Cardiff. Often called just Merthyr, it is said to be named after Tydfil, daughter of Kin ...

and

Cardiff City Cardiff City Football Club () is a professional association football club based in Cardiff, Wales. It currently competes in , the third tier of the English football league system in the 2025–26 season following relegation. Founded in 1899 a ...

lines, and the Cardiff Bay Branch.

Fleet details

References

{{British Rail EMU, state=collapsed

398 __NOTOC__ Year 398 ( CCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Eutychianus (or, less frequently, year 1151 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomin ...

Tram vehicles of the United Kingdom Light rail in the United Kingdom 25 kV AC multiple units Train-related introductions in 2025 Stadler Rail multiple units

History

Operator

Transport for Wales

Fleet details

See also

References