TfW class 398 Stadler Citylink tram trains

[Peter Sarf]

Good to know we’ll be keeping things nice and new and modern then.

Oh no, don't embrace the throw away society - we need to make things that last !.

 

[Signal_Box]

Oh no, don't embrace the throw away society - we need to make things that last !.

You do realise the railway and country are a little thin on the ground financially and will be for at least a decade providing longer?! Keeping things going is going to be name of the game from now on.

 

[Last Hurrah]

How is overnight testing progressing ?

Have they ventured beyond Taffs Well Depot to Radyr ?

Running under the wires (& beyond) ?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I’ll definitely be willing walk down to Cathays station and see one in the dead of night if they start testing them down there.

 

[anthony263]

How is overnight testing progressing ?

Have they ventured beyond Taffs Well Depot to Radyr ?

Running under the wires (& beyond) ?

They been to Radyr and Pontypridd. Videos of them are on.youtube.
Probably won't be long before one ventures to Cardiff

 

[The_Train]

Which units have been out on test so far?

 

[Envoy]

You Tube video of engineers testing the 398’s:>

 

[Snow1964]

Wales online has some new photos of depot and class 398 tram trains

First look at Wales' new tram trains as huge £100m depot takes shape

The long-awaited Metro aims to 'revolutionise' travel

www.walesonline.co.uk

 

[Dai Corner]

Wales online has some new photos of depot and class 398 tram trains

First look at Wales' new tram trains as huge £100m depot takes shape

The long-awaited Metro aims to 'revolutionise' travel

www.walesonline.co.uk

BBC Wales lunchtime News had a report from Taffs Well. I imagine there will be a longer one on the evening edition at 1830.

 

[SWML9102]

Impressed to hear that the new control centre is now providing signalling for trains on the Treherbet line. They do know the line is closed for at least another 6 months? Don't they...

 

[DaiBee]

Impressed to hear that the new control centre is now providing signalling for trains on the Treherbet line. They do know the line is closed for at least another 6 months? Don't they...

That's probably how they're able to do it.

 

[St. Paddy]

398011/012 now delivered to Taffs Well depot

 

[MDB1images]

398011/012 now delivered to Taffs Well depot

Hi,
Thanks for the info, do you know if these arrived by road on 07/08/23 or was it last week?

Cheers.

 

[St. Paddy]

Hi,
Thanks for the info, do you know if these arrived by road on 07/08/23 or was it last week?

Cheers.

No idea, info was from pictures on a tweet from Richard Clinnick. I just posted for info

 

[CardiffKid]

Promotional video from TfW including some interior shots

https://twitter.com/transport_wales/status/1689916296769556481?s=46&t=4lqZ0Yt4qlRigc_zT8m_9w

 

[Bob Price]

Has the testing halted on these units? Looking at the schedules I can't see anything in for the past week or so. Are they trying to get the depot finished first before they go all out?

 

[60159]

Has the testing halted on these units? Looking at the schedules I can't see anything in for the past week or so. Are they trying to get the depot finished first before they go all out?

Strikes willing I’m going to the Cardiff area for the first time in years. Are 398 numbers visible from passing trains, the platforms or elsewhere? There are reports of what can be seen but these may be from staff.
I’ll be staying in Barry. Are the 756s visible and if so from where?
Thanks

 

[Western 52]

Strikes willing I’m going to the Cardiff area for the first time in years. Are 398 numbers visible from passing trains, the platforms or elsewhere? There are reports of what can be seen but these may be from staff.
I’ll be staying in Barry. Are the 756s visible and if so from where?
Thanks

I saw some 398s from the station footbridge at Taff's Well last week, but not really close enough to identify them. At Barry you can see 756s from the down platform. Some at the depot and others in the sidings. Hard to identify most of them though and many weeds in the way of the sidings which obscure them.

 

[60159]

I saw some 398s from the station footbridge at Taff's Well last week, but not really close enough to identify them. At Barry you can see 756s from the down platform. Some at the depot and others in the sidings. Hard to identify most of them though and many weeds in the way of the sidings which obscure them.

Extremely helpful, thanks.

 

[Bob Price]

Yes, you can stand on the foot bridge at Taffs Well and see them in the depot. You can also walk around from the station and see them from nearby roads. I did a video about Taffs Well if this is of help, the trams are at the end

 

[60159]

Yes, you can stand on the foot bridge at Taffs Well and see them in the depot. You can also walk around from the station and see them from nearby roads. I did a video about Taffs Well if this is of help, the trams are at the end

Very interesting, thanks.

 

[Avowedsevern]

Yes, you can stand on the foot bridge at Taffs Well and see them in the depot. You can also walk around from the station and see them from nearby roads. I did a video about Taffs Well if this is of help, the trams are at the end

Excellent video, thanks for posting!

 

[Bob Price]

Looks like testing has started up again. There were runs last albeit late and truncated. Still wondering when they will head south of Radyr.

 

[Bornin1980s]

Why no rear bogie no the driving cars? They look a little precarious.

 

[Western 52]

Why no rear bogie no the driving cars? They look a little precarious.

Supported via the centre car I guess, like many trams.

 

[AdamWW]

Supported via the centre car I guess, like many trams.

I would have thought that if this wheel arrangement was a problem we'd know by now.

 

[MikePJ]

TfW have put out some consultation documents related to the introduction of the Class 398s - see attached. (The originals will be available here until Nov 10th). The second document gives detailed specs for the vehicles, which may be of interest.

However, the biggest piece of news is in the Proposed Timescales section (with my emphasis).

Proposed timescales
The first units were delivered to Taffs Well depot in March 2023.
Introduction in passenger service is expected no earlier than November 2024.
The proposed timetable for the implementation of this CVL Vehicle Change is:
1. Formal Sponsor's Notice (this document) – 23 August 2023
2. AIWL Industry Consultation issued – 23 September 2023 at latest
3. Consultation period ends – 23 November 2023 at latest
4. Entry into Service (EIS) (Cl 398) – 1 November 2024 at earliest

So - no 398s in service for at least a year.

 

[CapitalStar378]

TfW have put out some consultation documents related to the introduction of the Class 398s - see attached. (The originals will be available here until Nov 10th). The second document gives detailed specs for the vehicles, which may be of interest.

However, the biggest piece of news is in the Proposed Timescales section (with my emphasis).



So - no 398s in service for at least a year.

It's certainly longer than originally expected but not a surprise. Delivery of the units has been very slow, the depot is still not ready and we're nearly at the end of 2023.

I'm not sure how long driver training for the interim 756s will take, but I don't imagine they'll be on the CVL for very long before the 398s start.

 

[50031]

TfW have put out some consultation documents related to the introduction of the Class 398s - see attached. (The originals will be available here until Nov 10th). The second document gives detailed specs for the vehicles, which may be of interest.

However, the biggest piece of news is in the Proposed Timescales section (with my emphasis).



So - no 398s in service for at least a year.

The document showing routes for class 398 lists Queen St to Ystrad Mynach & Coryton. Isn't this new ??

 

[MikePJ]

The document showing routes for class 398 lists Queen St to Ystrad Mynach & Coryton. Isn't this new ??

These are routes requested for technical approval for the type. It seems likely that TfW would put every conceivable route that the 398s might use on it (though it raises the question about why they don't request approval to operate them to Rhymney!) but that doesn't mean they'll actually operate those routes.