The Class 398 Citylink is a fleet of 36 tram-train multiple units built for Transport for Wales Rail by Swiss rolling stock manufacturer Stadler Rail.
The units are equipped with traction battery packages, allowing them to operate over non-electrified sections of track in addition to those with overhead supplies.
History
The Wales & Borders rail franchise was awarded to KeolisAmey Wales 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-car and are able to be coupled together to form a six-car train. Each unit has a maximum passenger capacity of 256, and the units have level boarding, as well as space for wheelchairs, pushchairs and bicycles. All seats have access to three-pin AC and USB-A DC power sockets.
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 for testing on the Old Dalby Test Track.
The first unit was delivered to Taffs Well depot on 21 March 2023.
The first unit entered service on 23 June 2026, on services to Pontypridd and on the Cardiff Bay branch. However they were withdrawn from service on 19 September 2026 pending software updates after a number of failures.
Operator Transport for Wales Rail Class 398 units will operate services on the Rhondda, Merthyr and Cardiff City lines, and the Cardiff Bay Branch.
Fleet details ClassOperatorQty.Year builtCarsUnit nos.398Transport for Wales Rail362020–20233398001–398036
Illustration
Named unit Unit 398028 is named Myddfai.
See also British Rail Class 399, related Vossloh Citylink tram-trains built in the mid-2010s for Sheffield Supertram
References