-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
TfW class 398 Stadler Citylink tram trains
- Thread starter Bob Price
- Start date
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
tfw756rider
On Moderation
The closest I can find is "mid-2026" (from the November 2025 King Charles Taffs Well Depot visit stuff).
Cardiff123
Established Member
I'm pretty sure the 398s are due to start on Pontypridd to the Bay early next year. The introduction of TfW's full fleet into service depends now on getting the 398s into passenger service. The remaining 150s can't go on forever (without someone paying to keep them in service).
tfw756rider
On Moderation
Ah OK, thanks, and yeah that makes sense. How recently was "early 2026" stated though?
Cardiff123
Established Member
Modern Railways did several articles on TfW and the Core Valley Lines in particular in late summer & earlier in the autumn.
trainspotter4
Member
From quickly looking through RTT, all of the diagrams out of the Taff's Wells Depot has been cancelled for the last two weeks, you'd expect to see a bit more if it's early next year but wait and see?
The 398 introduction is dependent on the wires going live on the Bay line, which is due next weekend. They were supposed to be live in September with 398s starting in service in late November, so assuming the electrification all goes to plan, it would be February at the earliest for entry into service. TfW haven’t put out an industry consultation with the project plan for 2026 yet, so I’ll keep an eye out for that in the coming weeks.
absolutelymilk
Established Member
- Joined
- 18 Jul 2015
- Messages
- 1,606
Thanks - did the Bay line wires go live as planned?
No - they've been postponed to "early 2026" according to the latest press release. The Rhymney line wires were supposed to go live over the weekend and I've yet to see any reports as to whether that happened.
tigermonstera
Member
Looks like there was a 398 test run early this morning (RTT Link).
BillStampy
Established Member
Realtime Trains | Departures from Taffs Well Depot all day on 17/05/2026
Train information at Taffs Well Depot all day on 17/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Some very significant news for this thread in my opinion!
Tram workings from Taffs Well Depot are now active on the May Timetable which has recently become available on RTT which heavily suggests that the trams will start on May 17th on the Cardiff Bay to Pontypridd services (as we already expected!)
Obviously this is still a few months out and plans can change but it shows that the trams are close to starting!
Jacob Porrett
Established Member
Are they training runs for staff for example?Realtime Trains | Departures from Taffs Well Depot all day on 17/05/2026
Train information at Taffs Well Depot all day on 17/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Some very significant news for this thread in my opinion!
Tram workings from Taffs Well Depot are now active on the May Timetable which has recently become available on RTT which heavily suggests that the trams will start on May 17th on the Cardiff Bay to Pontypridd services (as we already expected!)
Obviously this is still a few months out and plans can change but it shows that the trams are close to starting!
BillStampy
Established Member
Looking at them, they seem to connect up to a Cardiff Bay run from there. For example 3B00 forms 2B00 Cardiff Central - Cardiff Bay via Queen Street.
Jacob Porrett
Established Member
Guess they are passenger runs then.
The following day, Monday 17th, a unit starts from Taffs Well Depot at 0555 and runs empty to Queen St before continuing in service to the Bay. So this definitely looks like entry into service.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
It does look like just one 398 will be in service though - the other units operating the service are shown coming from Canton or Barry depots. There's also what appears to be a "backup" path that brings an empty unit from Central into platform 2 at Queen St ready to start the Bay service, and this is timed to arrive shortly before the 398 arrives - so presumably is used in case the 398 isn't playing ball.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Realtime Trains | 3B00 0540 Taffs Well Depot to Cardiff Queen Street | 18/05/2026
Real-time train running information for 3B00 0540 departure from Taffs Well Depot to Cardiff Queen Street on 18/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
It does look like just one 398 will be in service though - the other units operating the service are shown coming from Canton or Barry depots. There's also what appears to be a "backup" path that brings an empty unit from Central into platform 2 at Queen St ready to start the Bay service, and this is timed to arrive shortly before the 398 arrives - so presumably is used in case the 398 isn't playing ball.
Realtime Trains | Departures from Cardiff Queen Street around 0616 on 18/05/2026
Train information at Cardiff Queen Street around 0616 on 18/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Last edited:
It certainly suggests the plan is for introduction sometime in the May 26 timetable, but I think it is a stretch to suggest it will be the day of the timetable. As mentioned there is an ECS mode from Cardiff too, they could easily swap it at some point during the timetable.
Jacob Porrett
Established Member
Time will tell I suppose.
Bob Price
Established Member
- Joined
- 8 Aug 2019
- Messages
- 1,243
398019 just passed the Seven Tunnel Webcam towed by a pair of class 20's. Due to arrive at Pengam sidings at 14:20. Headcode 6Q38.
StripeyNick
Member
crosscity
Member
... the one at the front was not just any 20! 20007 is nearly 70 years old, and was one of the BR 'Pilot scheme' locos, entering traffic in 1957! It is the oldest diesel loco still in service on the National Network.
tfw756rider
On Moderation
After 398019 was dragged by 20007 and 20205 on:
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
And then 20205 and 20007 (and the barrier wagons) went back as:
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
...it appears that 398019 then ran on:
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
(attached is a 17/1/26 crop of a 16/1/26 screenshot sent to me by someone I know, of a 16/1/26 video post by Brian Rolley in the Facebook group Railways In South Wales. The picture shows 398019 at Waun-gron Park station with dark evening sky, and the unit's headlights, cab lights and saloon lights lit in addition to the station lights. Second and third men are in the cab in addition to the driver).
Realtime Trains | 6Q38 1000 Kings Norton Ot Plant Dept to Pengam Sidings | 16/01/2026
Real-time train running information for 6Q38 1000 departure from Kings Norton Ot Plant Dept to Pengam Sidings on 16/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
And then 20205 and 20007 (and the barrier wagons) went back as:
Realtime Trains | 6M39 1544 Pengam Sidings to Kings Norton Ot Plant Dept | 16/01/2026
Real-time train running information for 6M39 1544 departure from Pengam Sidings to Kings Norton Ot Plant Dept on 16/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
...it appears that 398019 then ran on:
Realtime Trains | 3Q99 1815 Pengam Reception Sdgs Gbrf to Taffs Well Depot | 16/01/2026
Real-time train running information for 3Q99 1815 departure from Pengam Reception Sdgs Gbrf to Taffs Well Depot on 16/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
(attached is a 17/1/26 crop of a 16/1/26 screenshot sent to me by someone I know, of a 16/1/26 video post by Brian Rolley in the Facebook group Railways In South Wales. The picture shows 398019 at Waun-gron Park station with dark evening sky, and the unit's headlights, cab lights and saloon lights lit in addition to the station lights. Second and third men are in the cab in addition to the driver).
Attachments
Last edited:
crosscity
Member
398020 is on its way from Old Dalby to Pengam. It arrived at Kings Norton yard last night and will be moved to Pengam today t/t by 20007 and 20205.
Today's (Wed) working is 6Q38 (10:00 from Kings Norton yard).
20Jan2026. Kings Norton. Class 398 'Tram-Train' EMU 398020. Night train. [P1240312] by Ray Honke, on Flickr
Today's (Wed) working is 6Q38 (10:00 from Kings Norton yard).
20Jan2026. Kings Norton. Class 398 'Tram-Train' EMU 398020. Night train. [P1240312] by Ray Honke, on Flickr
tfw756rider
On Moderation
Realtime Trains | 6Q38 1000 Kings Norton Ot Plant Dept to Pengam Sidings | 21/01/2026
Real-time train running information for 6Q38 1000 departure from Kings Norton Ot Plant Dept to Pengam Sidings on 21/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Realtime Trains | 6M39 1545 Pengam Sidings to Kings Norton Ot Plant Dept | 21/01/2026
Real-time train running information for 6M39 1545 departure from Pengam Sidings to Kings Norton Ot Plant Dept on 21/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Realtime Trains | 3Q99 1814 Pengam Reception Sdgs Gbrf to Taffs Well Depot | 21/01/2026
Real-time train running information for 3Q99 1814 departure from Pengam Reception Sdgs Gbrf to Taffs Well Depot on 21/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
chargesmith
Member
Must be a good sign if they are bringing units back from Old Dalby.
crosscity
Member
Looking at this thread, and photos on Flickr, I calculate there is only one tram left at Old Dalby - 398015. Can anyone confirm this?
leomartin125
Member
My quick phone grab at Old Dalby yesterday from the footpath and I saw 398020 waiting to be collected, along with two 398s coupled together (seen above) with pantographs raised and staff onboard, so testing must be ongoing.
To answer your question therefore, I can confirm there are more than just one 398 left at Old Dalby.
BillStampy
Established Member
Apparently they're now running double units in testing from Taffs Well Depot too, think it's speeding up testing now that units are coming home!
StripeyNick
Member
I believe 032 is up at Old Dalby too. I think that one might have gone straight there
leomartin125
Member
Does anyone know what happens to the 398s once they get dumped at Pengam? Do they continue under their own power to Taff Wells or are they taken by road?
StripeyNick
Member
They go back to Taffs Well under their own power giving the rare shot of one approaching Central on the main/relief rather than from Queen St
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Realtime Trains | 3Q99 1814 Pengam Reception Sdgs Gbrf to Taffs Well Depot | 21/01/2026
Real-time train running information for 3Q99 1814 departure from Pengam Reception Sdgs Gbrf to Taffs Well Depot on 21/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
That's the path back to Taffs Well