The Class 398 Citylink[10] is a fleet of 36 tram-train multiple units being built for Transport for Wales Rail by Swiss rolling stock manufacturer Stadler Rail.
| British Rail Class 398 Citylink | |
|---|---|
 Class 398 on test at Abercynon in April 2025 | |
| In service | Planned for Spring 2026[1] |
| Manufacturer | Stadler Rail |
| Assembly | Stadler Rail Valencia SAU |
| Built at | Valencia, Spain |
| Family name | Citylink |
| Replaced | |
| Constructed | 2020–present[2] |
| Number under construction | 36 |
| Formation | 3 cars per unit |
| Fleet numbers | 398001–398036 |
| Capacity | 252 (126 seated, 126 standing) |
| Owners | SMBC Leasing[3] and Equitix[4] |
| Operator | Transport for Wales Rail |
| Depot | Taff's Well[5] |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Stainless steel |
| Train length | 40.07 m (131 ft 6 in) |
| Width | 2.650 m (8 ft 8.3 in) |
| Height | 3.865 m (12 ft 8.2 in)[6] |
| Floor height | 915 mm (36 in) at doors |
| Doors | Double-leaf sliding plug (1 per side per vehicle) |
| Wheel diameter | 740 mm (29 in) |
| Maximum speed | 62 mph (100 km/h) 60 mph (train mode)[6] 45 mph (tram mode)[6] |
| Traction motors | 4 × TSA TMR 42-31-4, each of 150 kW (201 hp)[7] |
| Power output | 600 kW (805 hp) |
| Electric system | 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead |
| Current collection | Pantograph |
| UIC classification | Bo′+2′2′+Bo′ |
| Minimum turning radius | 25 m (82 ft) |
| Coupling system | Scharfenberg Type 330[6] |
| Multiple working | Within class |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Notes/references | |
| Sourced from [8][9] except where otherwise noted. | |
The units will be equipped with traction battery packages, allowing them to operate over non-electrified sections of track in addition to those with 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead supplies.[2]
History
edit
The Wales & Borders rail franchise was awarded to KeolisAmey Wales in May 2018 and commenced on 14 October 2018.[11] The franchise award included a requirement that the operator perform a full replacement of its fleets;[12] 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.[13]
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.[14][15]
The first unit to arrive in the UK was 398001 in May 2022, delivered from the Valencia works to the Rail Innovation & Development Centre in Melton, Leicestershire[16] for testing on the Old Dalby Test Track.
The first unit was delivered to Taff's Well depot on 21 March 2023.[17] The Welsh Government have stated that entry into service is planned for spring 2026.[1]
Operator
editTransport for Wales
editTransport for Wales Rail Class 398 units will operate services on the Rhondda, Merthyr and Cardiff City lines,[17] and the Cardiff Bay Branch.
Fleet details
edit| Class | Operator | Qty. | Year built | Cars | Unit nos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 398 | Transport for Wales Rail | 36 | 2020–pres. | 3 | 398001–398036 |
Named units
editUnit 398028 is named Myddfai[18]
See also
edit- British Rail Class 399, related Vossloh Citylink tram-trains built in the mid-2010s for Sheffield Supertram
References
edit- 1 2 "New tram-trains will revolutionise transport in south Wales". Welsh Government. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- 1 2 "Trains for Wales under construction". Rail Business UK. Sutton: DVV Media International. 2 December 2020. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- ↑ "Time to take stock as the 'bubble' bursts…". Rail Magazine. No. 989. 9 August 2023. pp. 42–47.
- ↑ "Case Study: Wales & Borders – Commercial and Contract Management". Apex Rail. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ↑ "Taff's Well metro depot construction started by Transport for Wales". Railway Technology. Verdict Media. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 Dellard, Chris (23 August 2023). "Transport for Wales Rail Ltd CVL Vehicle Change proposal: Class 398" (PDF). Transport for Wales Rail Ltd. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
- ↑ "Stadler Rail Citylink for Keolis CVL Cardiff, Wales". Wiener Neudorf: Traktionssysteme Austria. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ↑ Citylink Tram Train, Transport for Wales (PDF). Bussnang: Stadler Rail Group. September 2022. CTTWB0922e. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ↑ Citylink Tram Train, Transport for Wales (PDF). Bussnang: Stadler Rail Group. October 2025. CL_TfW1025en. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Transport for Wales Rail [@tfwrail] (2 December 2019). "Our Metro tram-trains, which will run on the Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr lines from 2022, will be Class 398" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ↑ "Wales' rail and Metro franchise to be run by KeolisAmey". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ "KeolisAmey reveal new-look Wales trains and services". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ↑ Barry, Sion (4 June 2018). "How Wales' railways will be transformed with new stations, trains and jobs through investment worth billions". WalesOnline. Cardiff: Reach plc. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- ↑ Wilcok, Rich. "Revolutionary TfW South Wales Metro tram-train enters testing phase". RTM. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ↑ "Our New Trains". Transport for Wales. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ↑ "First Class 398 Tram-Train For TfW In Britain". Rail Volution. Rail Volution. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- 1 2 "South Wales Metro tram-train delivered as route blockade announced". Railway Gazette Intentional. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ↑ Butlin, Ashley (December 2025). "Multiple Units". Stock update. The Railway Magazine. Vol. 171, no. 1497. p. 79.