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TfW class 398 Stadler Citylink tram trains

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Peter Sarf

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5021 said:
But RTT shows this as cancelled for an "excluded reason" today (8th October)
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What I am looking at ran Thursday night (08/10/2026) BUT actually all after midnight so actually in the early ours of Friday morning 09/10/2026.

I see 3Q50 from Taffs Well to Treherbert ran
Then 3Q51, 3Q52, 3Q53, 3Q54, 3Q55 & 3Q56 all ran (little return trips out to Llwynypia and back to Treherbert.
tHEN 3Q57 back to Taffs Well cancelled.

So perhaps more test runs of it tonight ?.

Or a different 398 tonight and 398021 is left at Treherbert after a successful set of tests ?.

Is there something special about Treherbert to/from Llwynypia ?.
(my first assumption was its a convenient stretch that can be left open to traffic overnight but, alternatively, is/was there an issue for 398s on that stretch for instance).
 
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ajay1071

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12 Oct 2014
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It's unfortunate that the 398's have suffered more issues and been temporarily withdrawn from service, having ridden on a few units i found them quite appealing especially the acceleration and passenger experience. I think when the issues are sorted out and the full fleet is introduced it will be a big boost for the travelling public on the valley services, apart from, the well documented, lack of toilets.
 
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trainspotter4

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When I had a look through RTT at paths from Taffs Well Depot a day or two ago for next week onwards there was none, however seems now it's testing only paths next week (as expected) but service paths (obviously wait and see) from the 19th October incl. Aberdare so maybe they're getting closer? I know National Rail website says end of October so most likely will be bumped or could be to cover themselves if required (and it's progressing?).
 
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MikePJ

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It's worth noting that the Bay line is completely closed for engineering work (second track installation, apparently) for the last week of October (24th-30th).
 
CapitalStar378

CapitalStar378

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22 Jun 2013
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MikePJ said:
It's worth noting that the Bay line is completely closed for engineering work (second track installation, apparently) for the last week of October (24th-30th).
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Will the OLE be put in at the same time to save a future possession or will this be done in April during the 3 week Queen St closure next Spring?
 
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MikePJ

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CapitalStar378 said:
Will the OLE be put in at the same time to save a future possession or will this be done in April during the 3 week Queen St closure next Spring?
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I don’t know. The project plan is my source for this, and it only talks about installing the “Up Bay Line” and some pointwork. There’s no energisation shown, so if OLE does get installed it won’t be made live.
 
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Peter Sarf

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Today I notice all the workings on and off Taffs Well seem to be cancelled some time after time passes. They are/were all STP 3Qnn apart from the three earliest CAN 3Bnn or 3Jnn which are probably the normal start of a service day ECS positioning moves ?.
 
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WelshBluebird

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sd0733 said:
As it stands the 398s should be back in service from tomorrow.
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Essentially a month out all in all if they are. Frustrating, but not the end of the world on its own.

I assume if it is a software update as mentioned in a few places then they will likely have aimed to get it on a few units initially and get those out testing (like it looks like has been happening in recent days) and then into passenger service, whilst they go through the process of dealing with the rest of the fleet.
 
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trainspotter4

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Units currently allocated for tomorrow's service (Cardiff Bay <> Pontypridd still for clarity) is 398023/24/31 and interestingly 398008 is planned to do testing overnight from Radyr, oldest unit to see testing after 398011 quite a while ago - assuming it happens! And still a service path for Aberdare from the 19th..!
 
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bradleyd

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4 Apr 2011
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South Wales, but from the flat Southlands of lincs
John R said:
Looks like 398s are indeed out to play once more today, if this is to be believed.


(Link shows the 0708 Cardiff Bay to Pontypridd, running with 398031 being the unit.)
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They are indeed out to play, I saw the 6:24 ponty to the bay 398 running past me as I was on the bike path between treforest and tonteg this mornjng

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Is anybody able to tell me what the second number on this photo means? The 398023, i get as being the class/unit number, but how about the 999073?
 

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Tony2

Tony2

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bradleyd said:
They are indeed out to play, I saw the 6:24 ponty to the bay 398 running past me as I was on the bike path between treforest and tonteg this mornjng

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Is anybody able to tell me what the second number on this photo means? The 398023, i get as being the class/unit number, but how about the 999073?
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398023 is the set number, 999073 is one of the car numbers in that formation see here-

UK: 398 - SpotLog

spotlog.org spotlog.org
 
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AdamWW

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bradleyd said:
Thank you, that makes sense. I just dont think id clicked on to the cars having a separate number to the units
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Even though a 398 wouldn't readily come apart each coach still gets a "carriage" number.
The FLIRTs even have a separate number for the power module.
Presumably in the case of, say, accident damage, units could be re-formed in which case being able to track each coach separately makes sense.

Of course each 153 coach has two numbers - the coach number and the "set" number.
 
Bob Price

Bob Price

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A photo of 024 at Taffs Well about 7pm this evening.
 

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Adlee Turner

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If all goes well, we can start to expect the 398s operating services between Cardiff Central and Merthyr Tydfil/ Aberdare from this Saturday.
 
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Peter Sarf

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Torfaen said:
398019 eventually came out to replace it. Is it the first time in passenger service for that one?
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List updated.
Peter Sarf said:
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 In service on 13/10/2026 12th, 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)
Service use paused 19/09/2026 presumable for a software update, testing resumed 09/10/2026.

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)

12 398019 13/10/2026 (35)
Click to expand...
 
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