tfw756rider
On Moderation
I know that 398013 was on test runs and passed through Trefforest Estate in October 2025, unless you mean more recently?
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TfW class 398 Stadler Citylink tram trains
- Thread starter Bob Price
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chargesmith
Member
Yeah was thinking more recently.
018 has ran in passenger service but I've not heard anything about 013 recently.
Peter Sarf
Established Member
021 is first day according to my records.
According to my records 013 has not been on test recently as in on the TAM lines.
018 has already got as far as service (10/08/2026)
Have updated my list (below)
Daniel Boone
Member
Cheers for keeping a list. Really helpful.
chargesmith
Member
Yeah agree - it's a really good way of seeing how the fleet rollout is going.
I've been skimming through some of the earliest pages in this thread, and it appears that a very close watch was kept on the deliveries of units to Taff's Well. If anyone were so inclined, I think it would be possible to make quite a comprehensive list of delivery dates from the information in this thread, and possibly the dates on which specific units were first sent out for testing, too.
It's been quite an eye-opener to be reminded of some of the dates given by TfW for the entry of the 398s into public service. October 2024... May 2025 timetable... summer 2025... end of 2025 or early 2026... summer 2026...
The frustrating thing is that TfW rarely, if ever, admits to over-optimism or explains the reasons for the project slipping. Promises are quietly forgotten and a new press release with new dates gets issued. I'm sure the public and enthusiasts would be very forgiving if they were more open about things, but that isn't their way unfortunately.
StripeyNick
Member
021s first day was yesterday
It's hardly unusual though. Think of the PR surrounding the heavily delayed Class 810s or the Class 701s.
chargesmith
Member
Especially as infrastructure needed to be put in place first for the 398s.
Peter Sarf
Established Member
Thanks for confirming.
chargesmith
Member
I suspect for a while we'll stick with the three diagrams they are on and rotate the stock as they have been doing as more units become service ready.
I don't think they'll make their way up to e.g. Treherbert until all the new toilets are built.
Until they are running in multiple the capacity will also be an issue running north of Pontypridd, so I would expect to see the 3 Bay diagrams running with multiple units first.
We haven't seen one out on Sunday yet so that'll likely be the next milestone - I did see a path on RTT this Sunday but I did see one before and they didn't send one out.
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
They can’t unless the Bay is cut to half hourly. Wouldn’t fit in Queen St P1.
I suspect that wouldn't be an obstacle if they wanted to try out multiple running on the current diagram. They have been willing in the past to cut Bay services as part of the 398 introduction.
Anyway great to see them on all three diagrams.
I've used them a few times this week and all were done with driver door operation.
One of them seemed to be driven with considerable gusto and had to wait a fair bit at stations until departure time.
They still need to fix the Welsh announcements that say they are running non stop to the terminus though.
Peter Sarf
Established Member
Good capture. And dropping its pantograph at what looks like quite a high speed for a tram-train, certainly not stationary.
chargesmith
Member
Ah yes good point.
Jacob Porrett
Established Member
Are all the numbers above the doors?
Yes, unit numbers are above the driver's doors at both ends; vehicle numbers are part way along the outside of each vehicle at the same level - you can see them clearly in my video linked above if you put the video into high quality and pause it.
StripeyNick
Member
Yes it is
Photo of vehicle numbers 999060 (A) and the middle car 999160 (C) on unit 398010 at Taffs Well Depot taken on 20th July 2024. The second photo shows the third vehicle, 999260 (B).
This would be because it's the one the King drove during Taffs Well Depot opening ceremony last year? Not sure of the significance of the name, it's a village near Llandovery and a luxury gifts and perfume company based in that locality, a long way from Cardiff. Was some kind of sponsorship involved?
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No, it is named after the village near to where the King had a Welsh residence.
Source: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/gene...th-birthday-by-driving-tram-train/ar-AA1Qskha
Jacob Porrett
Established Member
Certainly different in comparison with other trains. What's wrong with putting them on the front these days?
I don't know. The 399s and the Croydon trams both have the unit number on the "chin" below the windscreen. Given that the unit number is primarily there for the benefit of railway staff, I'm sure that if the lack of it causes a problem operationally the 398s will have them vinyled on later!
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Actually, looking at the wikipedia page photo for the 398s gives a suggestion as to why: the 398s are designed for use with high platforms, unlike Sheffield and Croydon. So a number on the "chin" would be at or below platform level, making it difficult to see. Putting it above the driver's door is much easier for anyone seeing the unit from the platform.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Actually, looking at the wikipedia page photo for the 398s gives a suggestion as to why: the 398s are designed for use with high platforms, unlike Sheffield and Croydon. So a number on the "chin" would be at or below platform level, making it difficult to see. Putting it above the driver's door is much easier for anyone seeing the unit from the platform.
nigelsporne
Member
Do the 398s have a number at the top at the end of the carriages similar to the Pendolinos? Looking at the recent photos it appears not. Just no consideration for ' us spotters'. It would make life a bit easier at Taffs Well!
Peter Sarf
Established Member
The 398s have coach numbers at the coach ends. I worked out that one has to subtract 50 from the last two digits to get the unit number. Thing is most coach ends are not visible beyond an adjacent unit. It is the coach ends at the unit ends that are more likely to be visible and that location has the unit number there. But I have identified a few 398s relying on the coach number. Generally the unit number being so high and at the unit ends is the best place for the number.
Most likely where they have put the unit number makes it easy for drivers and depot staff to identify the correct unit at Taffs Well and other locations?