After what has seemed like a long wait, the first of the class 398 Citylink Tram-Trains due to be introduced on South Wales Metro services from the end of this year have started testing. 398 005 was the first of the units to be tested in mid-April with the programme expected to continue over the next few months.
36 of the Citylink vehicles are being built for Transport for Wales and the current plan is that they will start to run from this December. They will initially be allocated to services on the Rhondda, Merthyr and Cardiff City lines, along with the Cardiff Bay branch. Those will all be conventional train services but in the longer term they will be used on the planned tram service as part of Cardiff Crossrail, which its hoped will be operational from 2028.
They can operate on both overhead electric lines and battery power and have capacity to carry more than 250 passengers (albeit the majority would be standing). The Citylink Tram-Trains are just one part of major investment in the rail infrastructure around South Wales which has included the electrification of Valleys lines and more new trains being ordered and entering service. There has also been a new £100 million depot built at Taff’s Well.
Marie Daly, Chief Operating Officer at Transport for Wales, said: “This is another major milestone for us at TfW. We’ve already introduced our brand-new Class 756 trains onto the Merthyr, Aberdare, and Treherbert lines to improve the experience for our passengers. We’re now excited to progress to the next phase of the project, testing our light rail tram-trains that will offer a turn-up-and-go service as part of the South Wales Metro.
“The introduction of our new Metro Class 756s and tram-trains is part of our £800 million investment into brand-new trains for Wales, alongside a billion pounds of infrastructure upgrades to improve the frequency and accessibility of services. By transforming our rail network, we aim to provide reliable, comfortable, and attractive public transport options for our customers.”
Andrew Gazzard, Head of Operational Readiness at TfW, added: “Our teams now need to gain familiarisation and handling experience of the trains, and we need to embark on driver training later in the year. It’s a really proud moment for me and the team to be able to see these tram-trains on the network and we look forward to the next stage in getting them prepared for passengers.”
A wide angle view of Taff’s Well Depot with the lines and lines of tram-trains seen on the left. The station is seen on the far left where FLIRT unit 756 108 is seen in service.
A closer view of some of the Citylink vehicles at the depot. From left to right it includes 398 004, 398 011, 398 002, 398 015, 398 001, 398 010 and 398 007. (Both Photographs by Reece Hughes, 22nd March 2025)