To say that the testing of the class 398 tram-train vehicles in South Wales has been rather sporadic would be a bit of a understatement! As we previously reported daylight testing on the Treherbert line had kicked off on the first day of September but since then it has been touch and go whether they runs will actually take place.
The class 398 Citylink vehicles – 36 of them have been ordered – will ultimately be used on the proposed line which will link Cardiff Central with Cardiff Bay but with that not due to be ready until 2028, up until then they will be used on conventional railway services and it is planned (hoped?) that the first will carry passengers before the end of this year. And that is where the testing comes in!
There had been a complete week of no testing at all until Monday 22nd September when after the morning runs (there should be two in the morning and two in the afternoon) were cancelled the two afternoon runs then operated. Then Tuesday 23rd September saw all four runs operated. Once again 398 028 was the tram-tram chosen to do the testing.
Two views of 398 028 whilst on test at Taffs Well. (Both Photographs by David Mee, 23rd September 2025)