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British Rail Class 398

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

British Rail Class 398
Citylink
Class 398 at Cardiff Bay in 2026
Class 398 interior
In service23 June 2026–present[1]
ManufacturerStadler Rail
AssemblyStadler Rail Valencia SAU
Built atValencia, Spain
Family nameCitylink
Replaced
Constructed2020–2023[2][3]
Number built36
Formation3 cars per unit
Fleet numbers398001–398036
Capacity252
(126 seated, 126 standing)
OwnersSMBC Leasing[4] and Equitix[5]
OperatorTransport for Wales Rail
DepotTaffs Well[6]
Specifications
Car body constructionStainless steel
Train length40.07 m (131 ft 6 in)
Width2.650 m (8 ft 8.3 in)
Height3.865 m (12 ft 8.2 in)[7]
Floor height915 mm (36 in) at doors
DoorsDouble-leaf sliding plug
(1 per side per vehicle)
Wheel diameter740 mm (29 in)
Maximum speed60 mph (train mode)[7]
45 mph (tram mode)[7]
Weight73.22 tonnes[7]
Traction motors4 × TSA TMR 42-31-4,
each of 150 kW (201 hp)[8]
Power output600 kW (805 hp)
Electric system25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead
Current collectionPantograph
UIC classificationBo′+2′2′+Bo′
Minimum turning radius25 m (82 ft)
Coupling systemScharfenberg Type 330[7]
Multiple workingWithin class
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Notes/references
Sourced from [9][10] except where otherwise noted.

The Class 398 Citylink[11] is a fleet of 36 tram-train multiple units built for Transport for Wales Rail by Swiss rolling stock manufacturer Stadler Rail.

The units are equipped with traction battery packages, allowing them to operate over non-electrified sections of track in addition to those with 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead supplies.[2][12]

History

[edit]
Exterior of a Class 398 mock-up in 2020
Interior of the Class 398 mock-up in 2020

The Wales & Borders rail franchise was awarded to KeolisAmey Wales in May 2018 and commenced on 14 October 2018.[13] The franchise award included a requirement that the operator perform a full replacement of its fleets;[14] as part of which process an order was placed with Stadler for delivery by 2023 of 36 tram-train units that would be capable of running on existing lines and also under battery power on the streets of Cardiff.[15]

All units are three-car and are able to be coupled together to form a six-car train. Each unit has a maximum passenger capacity of 256, and the units have level boarding, as well as space for wheelchairs, pushchairs and bicycles. All seats have access to three-pin AC and USB-A DC power sockets.[16][17]

The first unit to arrive in the UK was 398001 in May 2022, delivered from the Valencia works to the Rail Innovation & Development Centre in Melton, Leicestershire[18] for testing on the Old Dalby Test Track.

The first unit was delivered to Taffs Well depot on 21 March 2023.[19]

The first unit entered service on 23 June 2026, on services to Pontypridd and on the Cardiff Bay branch.[1]

Operator

[edit]

Transport for Wales Rail Class 398 units will operate services on the Rhondda, Merthyr and Cardiff City lines,[19] and the Cardiff Bay Branch.

Fleet details

[edit]
Class Operator Qty. Year built Cars Unit nos.
398 Transport for Wales Rail 36 2020–2023[2][20] 3 398001–398036

Illustration

[edit]
Illustration of a TfW Class 398 unit (based on concept art)

Named unit

[edit]

Unit 398028 is named Myddfai.[21]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 "Today's Railways UK on X". X. 23 June 2026. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Trains for Wales under construction". Rail Business UK. Sutton: DVV Media International. 2 December 2020. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  3. ↑ "Freedom of Information Request 201/26". WhatDoTheyKnow / Transport for Wales Rail Limited. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "Time to take stock as the 'bubble' bursts…". Rail Magazine. No. 989. 9 August 2023. pp. 42–47.
  5. ↑ "Case Study: Wales & Borders – Commercial and Contract Management". Apex Rail. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  6. ↑ "Taff's Well metro depot construction started by Transport for Wales". Railway Technology. Verdict Media. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Dellard, Chris (23 August 2023). "Transport for Wales Rail Ltd CVL Vehicle Change proposal: Class 398" (PDF). Transport for Wales Rail Ltd. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  8. ↑ "Stadler Rail Citylink for Keolis CVL Cardiff, Wales". Wiener Neudorf: Traktionssysteme Austria. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  9. ↑ Citylink Tram Train, Transport for Wales (PDF). Bussnang: Stadler Rail Group. September 2022. CTTWB0922e. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  10. ↑ Citylink Tram Train, Transport for Wales (PDF). Bussnang: Stadler Rail Group. October 2025. CL_TfW1025en. Retrieved 29 March 2026.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ↑ Transport for Wales Rail [@tfwrail] (2 December 2019). "Our Metro tram-trains, which will run on the Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr lines from 2022, will be Class 398" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. ↑ "CITYLINK Transport for Wales | Stadler". www.stadlerrail.com. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
  13. ↑ "Wales' rail and Metro franchise to be run by KeolisAmey". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  14. ↑ "KeolisAmey reveal new-look Wales trains and services". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  15. ↑ Barry, Sion (4 June 2018). "How Wales' railways will be transformed with new stations, trains and jobs through investment worth billions". WalesOnline. Cardiff: Reach plc. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  16. ↑ Wilcok, Rich. "Revolutionary TfW South Wales Metro tram-train enters testing phase". RTM. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  17. ↑ "Our New Trains". Transport for Wales. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  18. ↑ "First Class 398 Tram-Train For TfW In Britain". Railvolution. Railvolution. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  19. 1 2 "South Wales Metro tram-train delivered as route blockade announced". Railway Gazette Intentional. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  20. ↑ "Freedom of Information Request 201/26". WhatDoTheyKnow / Transport for Wales Rail Limited. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  21. ↑ Butlin, Ashley (December 2025). "Multiple Units". Stock update. The Railway Magazine. Vol. 171, no. 1497. p. 79.
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