Indeed. And if I'm reading Realtimetrains correctly, not just running a passenger service until nearly midnight unlike before but also running in passenger service between Taffs Well and Pontyridd at the start and end of service instead of doing that bit as a non passenger service as has previously been the case.
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TfW class 398 Stadler Citylink tram trains
- Thread starter Bob Price
- Start date
Indeed. And if I'm reading Realtimetrains correctly, not just running a passenger service until nearly midnight unlike before but also running in passenger service between Taffs Well and Pontyridd at the start and end of service instead of doing that bit as a non passenger service as has previously been the case.
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RailUK Forums
They have to do training still so presumably they'll take any they can for that and by the time that's done a number will probably be transferred already.
Surely more to do with crew who are trained
Unfortunately it seems all hasn't been well.
It appears to have got out of the depot and managed to do Taffs Well to Pontypridd in service but then failed.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
After some cancellations, looks as if 398 022 has just picked up the service heading south from Taffs Well.
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chargesmith
Member
Great to hear that they are back in service, especially as I'm commuting tomorrow, will try and ride one if they are out.
Also looks like they ard planned to run in the evening too. Fingers crossed.
Also looks like they ard planned to run in the evening too. Fingers crossed.
Yes - until the end of service - for the first time.
nigelsporne
Member
First ride on a 398 this afternoon, 022, quite impressive. Let's hope they continue in the same vein.
I just had the unusual experience of travelling on a 398 after 4.
Despite the heat outside, when I got on I was met by a blast of reasonably frigid air. It seems that the air conditioning can work when it really wants to! This was at the front.
The centre of the train seemed somewhat warmer, as did the rest of the train. So it didn't just seem to be that it's cooler near the cabs.
The guard was working the doors - I don't think I've seen them with driver worked doors for a while now.
I do like the enormous windows.
And they don't half accelerate.
Despite the heat outside, when I got on I was met by a blast of reasonably frigid air. It seems that the air conditioning can work when it really wants to! This was at the front.
The centre of the train seemed somewhat warmer, as did the rest of the train. So it didn't just seem to be that it's cooler near the cabs.
The guard was working the doors - I don't think I've seen them with driver worked doors for a while now.
I do like the enormous windows.
And they don't half accelerate.
chargesmith
Member
Didn't get to ride 022 this morning but I did see it waiting at the red signal at the top of the Bay branch line.
From my vantage point on a train going into Central it looked to me that the front lights were very bright even in the bright sunshine.
Whatever issues they were having to make them feel the need to yellow wrap the fronts during testing look pretty much resolved to me, not that I know what the standards are for them.
From my vantage point on a train going into Central it looked to me that the front lights were very bright even in the bright sunshine.
Whatever issues they were having to make them feel the need to yellow wrap the fronts during testing look pretty much resolved to me, not that I know what the standards are for them.
Peter Sarf
Established Member
My guess is the headlights were OK for rail use. But were too bright (not dipped etc etc) for road standards.
So dimmer lights and yellow paint was the compromise. It won't stop a pedestrian stepping in front either way (as seen in Croydon with buses and trams) !.
Now perhaps technology is automatically varying the brightness depending on environment (rail line vs street running).
chargesmith
Member
That doesn't make sense to me as while on test they were only ever on private rail infrastructure with no street running, and to my knowledge all pedestrian crossings on the TAM lines have been closed - so whatever the issue was, I can't see that it would have been anything but rail-related.
The issue could have been raised and for once someone had the sense to deal with before it became a show-stopper. Dimming the lights so they could be used on the road would then make it rail-related, especially if the decision was made that you couldn’t always rely 100% on the lights being at “rail brightness” on rail.
tfw756rider
On Moderation
chargesmith
Member
Ah OK - that does make a bit more sense, thanks
Peter Sarf
Established Member
And actual street running affecting drivers of road vehicles is not yet happening even with the Cardiff Bay branch switching over to line of sight etc working. Its all still off road (as in not on highways). But the lights would likely have been set up for road compatibility before testing or even at the point of 398 construction.
But my thoughts were that for the lights to be dim enough for road sections then the 398s would be too dim for rail safety purposes so the ends were painted yellow. Yellow ends is the solution for trains with dimmer headlights - or should I say marker lights ?.
They were yellow (some kind of "wrap" I think, not paint) but all the ones out and about now seem to have reverted to fully grey ends.
Btw there's still level crossings on TAM lines, there's just less than before. Cwmbach for example still has one.
It would be interesting to know what they did do with the lights but like others said it's probably some changes to make them less of an issue for street running.
Re-street running didn't they need a different wheel profile at one point. But there's no mention of that now so I'm guessing that perhaps even Cardiff crossrail isn't an issue with standard rail profile wheels?
chargesmith
Member
It looks like 022 ran uninterrupted until the end of service yesterday, a milestone for the 398s.
028 is out today.
028 is out today.
Peter Sarf
Established Member
I should have remembered this (only a month ago). But it means the tram-trains can/should/will adjust their headlights depending on what/who they are sharing their "road" with.
Most likely working in multiple (both powered).
chargesmith
Member
Great picture!
Also love the picture too.
I have a question though why only one external cab door ? Is this commonplace on tram-trains ?
Peter Sarf
Established Member
Great picture.
Symmetrical and more. Shows two units coupled (and we needed that as it seems multiple working has really started). No one can say it was on a test track somewhere in Europe as that is definitely South Wales and a normal rail line with a ("the") station name framed so beautifully. Look - no yellow ends.
Nice capture.
chargesmith
Member
Probably a space saving measure, haven't seen inside the cabs but am guessing the control boards for the safety switches etc are on that wall which means the cab can be smaller than if a cab door on each side was required, increasing the passenger cabin space. Unsure if this is common or not.
Peter Sarf
Established Member
Cab access on both versios of Croydon trans is also via the passenger area.
eastwestdivide
Established Member
Ditto for the SYorks 399 tram-trains, no external cab doors, only via the passenger area.
Chorley Cake
Member
- Joined
- 23 Aug 2014
- Messages
- 387
018 & 029 were also out on test together yesterday
nigelsporne
Member
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.