TfW class 398 Stadler Citylink tram trains

[Peter Sarf]

I noticed whilst watching the Depot last week, but don't know if this is just coincidence, that late evening the unit that does the following morning's run goes into the smaller shed on the right of the main buildings. No idea what this shed is for but I assume somebody does.

There is a layout diagram up thread circa June or July iirc.

 

[800001]

Some pictures in the link below from Facebook group 'Welsh Railways, current fleet and new orders' of two double sets out on test yesterday. Picture also attached showing a double set at Taft's Well.

Facebook

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[AdamWW]

Ditto for the SYorks 399 tram-trains, no external cab doors, only via the passenger area.

They have lower floors than a 398 I think. The 398 cab door has steps which the passenger doors seem to lack.

 

[CHAPS2034]

Cab access on both versions of Croydon trams is also via the passenger area.

Same for Manchester Metrolink.

 

[eastwestdivide]

They have lower floors than a 398 I think. The 398 cab door has steps which the passenger doors seem to lack.

Yes the 399s do have lower floors (hence the separate tram and train platforms at Rotherham C), although there’s a step up inside to seats at the level of the cab. The 398s must be normal rail platform height I suppose.

 

[chargesmith]

Yes the 399s do have lower floors (hence the separate tram and train platforms at Rotherham C), although there’s a step up inside to seats at the level of the cab. The 398s must be normal rail platform height I suppose.

Depends what you mean by normal - they are level boarding on heavy rail platforms so lower than most trains but higher than most trams I would imagine.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Depends what you mean by normal - they are level boarding on heavy rail platforms so lower than most trains but higher than most trams I would imagine.

Exactly. So any future street running in S Wales would need normal rail-height platforms

 

[chargesmith]

Exactly. So any future street running in S Wales would need normal rail-height platforms

Not necessarily - if it doesn't use the same platforms as traditional trains (or share platforms with tram trains that are expected to do so), it may not be necessary. However all the current proposals I am aware of do have this requirement.

 

[tomoufc]

Exactly. So any future street running in S Wales would need normal rail-height platforms

Luckily, we have a good example of this working from Manchester.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Not necessarily - if it doesn't use the same platforms as traditional trains (or share platforms with tram trains that are expected to do so), it may not be necessary. However all the current proposals I am aware of do have this requirement.

But the 398s already do, as they are working turn about with 756s and 150s on the Valley Lines

 

[trainspotter4]

Another unit in service today, 398017. I do think it will be good to see more of these lower unit numbers in testing/service as these will be no doubt be the ones requiring most modifications for service.

 

[tfw756rider]

Another unit in service today, 398017. I do think it will be good to see more of these lower unit numbers in testing/service as these will be no doubt be the ones requiring most modifications for service.

Thanks for letting us know

The entry-to-service of 398017 'today' (Tue 28/7/26) now means that 6 (of 36) 398s have been in service:

398017/022/024/028/030/031

The number of 398s still to enter service is down to 30:

398001-016, 398018-021, 398023, 398025-027, 398029, 398032-036

=============================

The overall number of new Transport for Wales (TfW) trains that have been in service is now up to 117 (of 148):

76 (of 77) 197s
All 11 231s
6 (of 36) 398s
All 24 756s

This leaves 31 new TfW trains still to enter service:

1 197
30 398s

 

[chargesmith]

Another unit in service today, 398017. I do think it will be good to see more of these lower unit numbers in testing/service as these will be no doubt be the ones requiring most modifications for service.

Looks like it got taken out of service due to a safety systems issue. Currently parked up at Pontypridd.

 

[trainspotter4]

Looks like it got taken out of service due to a safety systems issue. Currently parked up at Pontypridd.

Yeah, I saw this too, does seem to be still scheduled to run the 17:24 out of Pontypridd so maybe they've managed to get it going again, no new paths out of the depot to do a unit swap yet and it's been quite a while now, TfW are reporting disruption between Radyr and Pontypridd due to a broken down train until 19:00, was this 398017 maybe?

 

[Da142072]

Having checked realtime trains it appears that the culprit was 756113 on a preceding down Treherbert service which delayed the following down Aberdare and 398017 for half hour or so between Treforest Estate and Taffs Well.

 

[chargesmith]

Having checked realtime trains it appears that the culprit was 756113 on a preceding down Treherbert service which delayed the following down Aberdare and 398017 for half hour or so between Treforest Estate and Taffs Well.

Looks like the cancellation code on RTT was incorrect then, I only looked at the Bay services in isolation to see how the 398 was doing which filtered out all the chaos of the afternoon.

It did get going again and at the time of writing is finishing it's final run into Pontypridd for the day.

 

[Cardiff4]

Pleasantly surprised to see 398017 at Cardiff Queen Street station last night at 2220 operating a Pontypridd to Cardiff Bay service.

 

[chargesmith]

Pleasantly surprised to see 398017 at Cardiff Queen Street station last night at 2220 operating a Pontypridd to Cardiff Bay service.

Great picture!

It's out again today, managed to see it down the Bay. It's still not using the wires down there as far as I can see.

 

[StripeyNick]

398029 showing in service today so I make that another making it's debut into traffic

 

[chargesmith]

398029 showing in service today so I make that another making it's debut into traffic

With 017 the other day I think that makes 7?

 

[nigelsporne]

So with this number of units apparently performing ok is there a move to increase the number of diagrams?

 

[tfw756rider]

398029 showing in service today so I make that another making it's debut into traffic

Thanks for letting us know

With 017 the other day I think that makes 7?

Yes indeed, the entry-to-service of 398029 'today' (Fri 31/7/26) now means that 7 (of 36) 398s have been in service:

398017/022/024/028/029/030/031

The number of 398s still to enter service is down to 29:

398001-016, 398018-021, 398023, 398025-027, 398032-036

=============================

The overall number of new Transport for Wales (TfW) trains that have been in service is now up to 118 (of 148):

76 (of 77) 197s
All 11 231s
7 (of 36) 398s
All 24 756s

This leaves 30 new TfW trains still to enter service:

1 197
29 398s

 

[crZiller]

I thought it was a new one today... thanks for confirming! Rode it into town for an appointment but was caught in the service gap for the way back so was quicker to walk. The sooner frequency gets increased on the link to the bay, the better! They're teasing us with this vision of the future!

 

[DaiBee]

I thought it was a new one today... thanks for confirming! Rode it into town for an appointment but was caught in the service gap for the way back so was quicker to walk. The sooner frequency gets increased on the link to the bay, the better! They're teasing us with this vision of the future!

Indeed, and who knows, we may one day get back to the 6 trains an hour service we used to have a couple of years ago!

 

[chargesmith]

So with this number of units apparently performing ok is there a move to increase the number of diagrams?

If I've interpreted RTT correctly, there will be a 398 out tomorrow (first in public service on a weekend) and two out on Monday (first time two will be out in service at the same time other than unit swaps for issues).

Obviously dependent on my interpretation being correct, and TfW being able to stick to the plan.

 

[5021]

If I've interpreted RTT correctly, there will be a 398 out tomorrow (first in public service on a weekend) and two out on Monday (first time two will be out in service at the same time other than unit swaps for issues).

Obviously dependent on my interpretation being correct, and TfW being able to stick to the plan.

On the other hand, perhaps to avoid the risk of overdoing things, there are no trial runs to Treherbert today, just the usual four to Aberdare

 

[Peter Sarf]

I feel a list coming on :-

398001
398002
398003
398004
398005
398006
398007
398008
398009
398010
398011 Testing from 15/08/2026
398012
398013 Testing from 19/08/2026
398014
398015
398016 Testing
398017 In service on 28/07/2026 6th, two in service 03/08/2026 (398017 and 398029 not coupled)
398018 In service on 10/08/2026 8th, Testing (multi ?) before
398019 Seen at Merthyr on 22/08/2026, presumably testing ?.
398020 Testing (multi)
398021 In Service on 18/08/2026 9th
398022 In service on 03/07/2026 4th (all day 23/07/2026)
398023 Testing
398024 In service on 25/06/2026 3rd
398025.Testing
398026 Testing from 18/08/2026
398027
398028 In service on 23/06/2026 1st
398029 In service on 31/07/2026 7th, also did first weekend service (Saturday 01/08/2026), two in service 03/08/2026 (398017 and 398029 not coupled)
398030 In service on 14/07/2026 5th
398031 In service on 24/06/2026 2nd
398032.Old Dalby
398033
398034.Delivered on 14/05/2026 ?
398035.Not yet delivered
398036.Not yet delivered

First day with two in service 03/08/2026 017 & 029.
First day with three in service 19/08/2028 017, 029 & 031.

That is all the past dates (before 01/08/2026) I can unearth.

Below is a list of 398s in the order they entered service (I have decided to make life more complicated !).
Unit, date, (days elapsed)

01 398028 23/06/2026

02 398031 24/06/2026 (1)

03 398024 25/06/2026 (1)

04 398022 03/07/2026 (8)

05 398030 14/07/2026 (11)

. . . Milestone : First all day service on 23/07/2026 (398022)

06 398017 28/07/2026 (14)

07 398029 31/07/2026 (3), also did first weekend service (Saturday 01/08/2026), two in service 03/08/2026 (398017 and 398029 not coupled)

. . . Milestone : First day with two in service 03/08/2026 (398017 and 398029 not coupled)

08 398018 10/08/2026 (10)

09 398021 18/08/2026 (8)

. . . Milestone : First day with three in service 19/08/2028 (398017, 398029 & 398031).

 

[800001]

I feel a list coming on :-

398001
398002
398003
398004
398005
398006
398007
398008
398009
398010
398011
398012
398013
398014
398015
398016 Testing
398017 In service on 28/07/2026
398018 Testing (multi ?)
398019
398020 Testing (multi)
398021 Testing
398022 In service on 03/07/2026 (all day 23/07/2026)
398023 Testing
398024 In service on 25/06/2026 3rd
398025 Testing
398026
398027
398028 In service on 23/06/2026 1st
398029 In service on 31/07/2026
398030 In service on 14/07/2026
398031 In service on 24/07/2026 2nd
398032 Old Dalby ?
398033
398034 Delivered on
398035 Not yet delivered
398036 Not yet delivered

I am still adding dates.

Yes it is 398032 still at Old Dalby.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Yes it is 398032 still at Old Dalby.

Thanks, still evading me then !.

Updated.

 

[positron]

Do we know why the 2 are still not delivered? Feels weird given how long the rest have been there.