TfW class 398 Stadler Citylink tram trains

[AdamWW]

What company would realistically do that though? No company likes to give out negative PR on itself.

Most people don't want to know the finite details, they just want a train to turn up.

I've seen companies acknowlege they have missed deadlines and give an explanation.
It looks better to me than just pretending it never happened when clearly it did. The negative PR ls already there. They have a chance to make things a bit better by explaining.
I don't claim to know what most people want, but my experience when talking to people during disruption is that generally they do want know why they are stuck at a station with no trains turning up. Isn't that just human nature?

 

[Pete_uk]

What company would realistically do that though? No company likes to give out negative PR on itself.

Most people don't want to know the finite details, they just want a train to turn up.

Company maybe, but a public service?

 

[5021]

Are we sure there are actually brake issues or is it just what some are suggesting ?.

Again - possibly an information vacuum naturally being filled by conjecture.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Monday at 19:52 ==

The only previous refererence I've seen to "brake issues" with these units is this: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:G39665/2026-09-16/detailed
from 16th September which I wouldn't regard as gospel. 398029 had worked the corresponding service the day before, the first to run in passenger service over NR metals

 

[Peter Sarf]

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Monday at 19:52 ==

The only previous refererence I've seen to "brake issues" with these units is this: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:G39665/2026-09-16/detailed
from 16th September which I wouldn't regard as gospel. 398029 had worked the corresponding service the day before, the first to run in passenger service over NR metals

That is true.

Thanks for reminding me I had neglected to add the NR use to my list (below).

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 In service on 08/09/2026 11th
398024 In service on 25/06/2026 3rd
398025.In service on 02/09/2026 10th
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). First use in service use of a 398 on NR metals 15/09/2026.
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.
First rescue of a 398 (022) by two other 398s (possibly T&T as reversal required) 01-02/09/2026 - successful.
. . . 398031 leading to Taffs Well with 398028 on the rear.
First Sunday service using a 398 06/09/2026 398031.
First use in service use of a 398 on NR metals 15/09/2026 (398029)

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 !).
Order, 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).

10 398025 02/09/2026 (15)

. . . Milestone : First use on a Sunday 06/09/2026 (398031)

11 398023 08/09/2026 (6)

. . . Milestone : First use in service use of a 398 on NR metals 15/09/2026 (398029)