TfW class 398 Stadler Citylink tram trains

[800001]

Any idea how many are there?

Or a question to others, how many of the 36 are built and/or in the UK?

There are 6 at Old Dalby I believe.

 

[The_Train]

There are 6 at Old Dalby I believe.

Anybody know the other 4 as I only have 001 and 006 at Old Dalby. A sensible bet would be that 002-005 are the missing 4 but anyone know for sure please?

 

[800001]

Anybody know the other 4 as I only have 001 and 006 at Old Dalby. A sensible bet would be that 002-005 are the missing 4 but anyone know for sure please?

001-006 are at Old Dalby.

 

[The_Train]

001-006 are at Old Dalby.

Thank you

 

[sharpley]

Any idea how many are there?

Or a question to others, how many of the 36 are built and/or in the UK?

The 2 units that I photographed were the only ones outside at the time. Too far away to get any numbers unfortunately.

 

[trainlogger]

398006 was in the shed at Taffs Wells depot on Thursday, taking the total there up to three. Not sure when it arrived- maybe Tuesday or Wednesday?

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Deleted

 

[tomuk]

398006 was in the shed at Taffs Wells depot on Thursday, taking the total there up to three. Not sure when it arrived- maybe Tuesday or Wednesday?

Why would you want to put multimillion pound rolling stock in the middle of a building site?

 

[43096]

Why would you want to put multimillion pound rolling stock in the middle of a building site?

If they got bashed it would probably improve the looks. Those things are hideous - they fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

 

[800001]

398006 was in the shed at Taffs Wells depot on Thursday, taking the total there up to three. Not sure when it arrived- maybe Tuesday or Wednesday?

It headed there Wednesday I believe.

 

[Envoy]

If they got bashed it would probably improve the looks. Those things are hideous - they fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

I agree. Surely, the flat area low down would cause a derailment if it hit something like a log? The front of IET’s (Class 800’s) looks built to deflect obstructions.

 

[507 001]

I agree. Surely, the flat area low down would cause a derailment if it hit something like a log? The front of IET’s (Class 800’s) looks built to deflect obstructions.

There's probably nothing much behind that panel other than the auto coupler.

 

[Dai Corner]

There's probably nothing much behind that panel other than the auto coupler.

The flat-fronted 150s, Pacers and first generation DMUs have been happily travelling up and down the Valleys for over six decades. The pointed noses on high-speed trains are probably more to do with aerodynamics which are more more significant at 125mph than 55mph.

 

[janahan]

I agree. Surely, the flat area low down would cause a derailment if it hit something like a log? The front of IET’s (Class 800’s) looks built to deflect obstructions.

As these are "Tram-Trains" and probably have some requirements about how they are shaped. Note the sheffield supertram Tram Train is very similar, though clever use of the paint job there does hide the angles better.

 

[507 001]

The flat-fronted 150s, Pacers and first generation DMUs have been happily travelling up and down the Valleys for over six decades. The pointed noses on high-speed trains are probably more to do with aerodynamics which are more more significant at 125mph than 55mph.

The point wasn’t about the flat front though, it was about the front fenders being so low.

 

[Mollman]

The point wasn’t about the flat front though, it was about the front fenders being so low.

The 399s in South Yorkshire seemed to have done alright so far

 

[physics34]

If they got bashed it would probably improve the looks. Those things are hideous - they fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

There certainly isnt much emphasis put into looks these days.

 

[507 001]

The 399s in South Yorkshire seemed to have done alright so far

Precisely.

Trams have to have such low skirts, the point I was making is there’s likely very little behind the fender, so should the vehicle run over a log or whatever it’ll be fine. The front fender on our M5000s is just fibreglass, it’s not structural in any way.

 

[Towers]

My apologies as I’m sure this has probably been covered at length already, but how are these to be worked - I presume some form of DOO/DCO?

 

[craigybagel]

My apologies as I’m sure this has probably been covered at length already, but how are these to be worked - I presume some form of DOO/DCO?

There will be guards on all services. No DOO at TfW. How involved they'll be in dispatch is still up for agreement.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

There will be guards on all services. No DOO at TfW. How involved they'll be in dispatch is still up for agreement.

That surprises me. Seems like a waste of money to have guards on tram trains.
Edit: I’ve remembered these trams will serve some of the notoriously dodgy Valleys, never mind

 

[Bletchleyite]

That surprises me. Seems like a waste of money to have guards on tram trains.

Pop up to Blackpool or Sheffield and ask the locals what they think of their "clippies", perhaps? The tramways without a staff presence seem to be the ones with serious antisocial behaviour issues.

I can't see them doing the doors, that said, but perhaps a Merseyrail like "dual dispatch" setup might happen? Stadler already have the technology developed for Merseyrail, which involves a guard (or whatever you call them) tapping a proximity card to confirm "ready to close up and go". It's kind of like a variation on Southern OBS but with more safety training.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Pop up to Blackpool or Sheffield and ask the locals what they think of their "clippies", perhaps? The tramways without a staff presence seem to be the ones with serious antisocial behaviour issues.

I can't see them doing the doors, that said, but perhaps a Merseyrail like "dual dispatch" setup might happen? Stadler already have the technology developed for Merseyrail, which involves a guard (or whatever you call them) tapping a proximity card to confirm "ready to close up and go". It's kind of like a variation on Southern OBS but with more safety training.

Actually yes, what am I saying? These trams will go through the Valleys for goodness sake. Realising that has changed my mind immediately

 

[craigybagel]

I can't see them doing the doors, that said, but perhaps a Merseyrail like "dual dispatch" setup might happen? Stadler already have the technology developed for Merseyrail, which involves a guard (or whatever you call them) tapping a proximity card to confirm "ready to close up and go". It's kind of like a variation on Southern OBS but with more safety training.

It's not set in stone yet, but I believe the proposals are for something fairly similar to the Merseyrail agreement alright.

 

[Meerkat]

There will be guards on all services. No DOO at TfW. How involved they'll be in dispatch is still up for agreement.

Again! Trains ordered and specced without agreement on how they will be operated. Will there be a farce of the build being late and then still no services run as the unions refuse the method of working?

 

[anthony263]

Again! Trains ordered and specced without agreement on how they will be operated. Will there be a farce of the build being late and then still no services run as the unions refuse the method of working?

Think tfw already got a agreement with the unions

 

[Towers]

I suppose the nuclear option would have been to have declared that the Valleys has become an LRT system or whatever and done away with the whole traditional traincrew set up, and staffed them with tram drivers. I’m pleased and surprised in equal measure that they didn’t!

 

[Dai Corner]

I suppose the nuclear option would have been to have declared that the Valleys has become an LRT system or whatever and done away with the whole traditional traincrew set up, and staffed them with tram drivers. I’m pleased and surprised in equal measure that they didn’t!

Remember we have a left-wing Labour Government which announced in the earliest stages of the project that there would continue to be guards.

 

[craigybagel]

Again! Trains ordered and specced without agreement on how they will be operated. Will there be a farce of the build being late and then still no services run as the unions refuse the method of working?

RMT have already agreed the proposed method of working, they've been involved since early on in the project. The changes for ASLEF are party of a much bigger set of changes to the contract but I believe that part is also already agreed in principle. In any case, I believe the units are capable of being worked in the conventional manner anyway (as the 231s already are on the Rhymney line) it's just hoped that the new method of work will decrease dwell time at stations.

So the answer to your question is no.

 

[Buzz68]

Another 398 was delivered to Taffs Well tonight