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TfW class 398 Stadler Citylink tram trains
- Thread starter Bob Price
- Start date
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RailUK Forums
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
Thank you, I'm not really an avid photographer but I was pleased with it
bradleyd
Member
Currently sat on one of these that's been waiting at llandaf, driver has had to go out and shut the back door from the outside, which was fun
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
I thank you.Nice line up of 398028 Myddfai, 756110 and an unidentified 756 at Cardiff Queen Street
Photo taken 25/8, 19:15, so:Nice line up of 398028 Myddfai, 756110 and an unidentified 756 at Cardiff Queen Street
398028 - 2J52 19:08 Cardiff Bay to Pontypridd
756110 - 2F58 18:10 Treherbert to Cardiff Central
and
756001 - 2F60 18:59 Caerphilly to Cardiff Central
tfw756rider
On Moderation
Thanks, hadn't occurred to me to download the photo, look at the 'date taken' in the metadata and look on Realtime Trains.
ABB125
Established Member
What class 398 services can I expect to be running today? It looks like two Cardiff Bay diagrams according to RealTime Trains, but I haven't been following this thread so don't know if I'm missing something. Thanks
318266
Member
All 3 of the Bay diagrams are 398s as scheduled, with 398017, 398022 and 398031 in service today.
ABB125
Established Member
Thanks
Cardiff123
Established Member
It looks like one of the 398s has failed today and it's not been replaced, either by another 398 or a 150.
Are there only 3 x 398s still available for passenger services?
Are there only 3 x 398s still available for passenger services?
trainspotter4
Member
Seems like 398022 failed early on in the day but absolutely no attempt to swap this out so far, first time we've seen this.
Usually they are swapped out within an hour or so max by part-running to Taffs Wells and unit swapping there, maybe limited units today...?
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Just looking about on RTT, seems like there is a few mainline diagrams requiring 197s/Sprinters which isn't happening because none available so can't see a 150 swap coming, will be another 398 if anything or cancelled for rest of the day similar to mainline services currently. Ebbw <> Newport, one diagram is uncovered/cancelled and Cardiff <> Cheltenham one diagram is uncovered/cancelled. Interesting why another 398 hasn't come in though?
Usually they are swapped out within an hour or so max by part-running to Taffs Wells and unit swapping there, maybe limited units today...?
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Just looking about on RTT, seems like there is a few mainline diagrams requiring 197s/Sprinters which isn't happening because none available so can't see a 150 swap coming, will be another 398 if anything or cancelled for rest of the day similar to mainline services currently. Ebbw <> Newport, one diagram is uncovered/cancelled and Cardiff <> Cheltenham one diagram is uncovered/cancelled. Interesting why another 398 hasn't come in though?
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Cardiff123
Established Member
Meanwhile there's luxury on the VoG today with 2 double 150s on 2 different diagrams, when other services are being cancelled.
Sometimes TfW's allocations make absolutely no sense
trainspotter4
Member
Yeah, their allocation/swap decisions are strange at times, interested to see if that double-up lasts the rest of the day; looks like a 197 was taken off Cheltenham for Pembroke (first I've seen this, usually Chester).
It highlights the absolute need for the 398s to continue progressing so 231s can move to mainline, as to be fair Canton/Barry-maintained units seem to be the only thing not in short supply (minus 153s coming out of storage).
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Photo recently posted around showed 398022 still in Cardiff Queen Street (Platform 1) so seems like the first unit to have got stuck in service, as usually they head straight back to depot.
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Wonder what's wrong with 398022. Will it have the battery to make it back to Taffs Well?
Though I'm guessing one reason it's not been rescued is because platform 1 at queen street is a bit of a pain to rescue from. You can't get from there to the other running lines without going via the bay line. So you'd presumably have to get another 398 behind it connect up shunt down to the bay line at least a bit and then decide how you're going to get it back to Taffs Well, presumably you'd need to rescue unit in front so going via city line is probably easiest but longer off wires during a rescue?
Though I'm guessing one reason it's not been rescued is because platform 1 at queen street is a bit of a pain to rescue from. You can't get from there to the other running lines without going via the bay line. So you'd presumably have to get another 398 behind it connect up shunt down to the bay line at least a bit and then decide how you're going to get it back to Taffs Well, presumably you'd need to rescue unit in front so going via city line is probably easiest but longer off wires during a rescue?
spaniel
Member
I saw 398022 stranded on platform 1 earlier today as described above, unmanned by the looks of it, I couldn’t see any engineers or anything. I just passed back through QS and it is still there.
Attached is a photo from just before 1pm today
Attached is a photo from just before 1pm today
trainspotter4
Member
Just had a look now, seems 398022 is still on Platform 1 as of writing this; the rescue attempt is planned for near end of service (23:40 leaving Taffs Wells, https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:11838/2026-08-31/detailed and sending down to Cardiff Bay to reverse for 23:59, https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:11842/2026-08-31/detailed), will be interesting to see how they manage this as it's the first rescue we've seen whilst they've been in service and maybe even testing (I do recall one failing in Aberdare with brake issues but believe this was fixed at the station not requiring rescue during early testing)? Does only appear to be using one unit based on diagraming but maybe they'll send out a double unit and de-attach if either side is required, will also prove an early comment if 398 rescues absolutely require a functioning unit on either side (so three total) or not.
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Definitely in service as I saw it running on the Bay line.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
RealTimeTrains also notes that the route timings for the rescue train was for a maximum of 33mph (about 50km/h in metric), and it didn't keep up to those timings, so was definitely going pretty slowly. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:11841/2026-09-01/detailed
It was done with 2 units. One front, one rear and 5mph max. Not sure if the 5mph max is necessary for all rescues or if there was something specific with this one for the speed restriction. There was a long list of faults displayed that couldn’t be rectified so hard to know.
chargesmith
Member
It will be interesting to see how long until 022 is out again.
By my memory, with previous unit in service failures the failed unit has been able to return to the depot under its own power and is usually back out in service the next day.
Given this is the first unit that has needed to be rescued then this may not be the case this time.
StripeyNick
Member
398025 making it's debut in service today
Working alongside 028 and 031
Working alongside 028 and 031