British Rail Class 398

British Rail Class 398
Citylink
Class 398 at Cardiff Bay in 2026
Class 398 interior
In service23 June 2026–present
ManufacturerStadler Rail
AssemblyStadler Rail Valencia SAU
Built atValencia, Spain
Family nameCitylink
Replaced
Constructed2020–2023
Number built36
Formation3 cars per unit
Fleet numbers398001–398036
Capacity252
(126 seated, 126 standing)
OwnersSMBC Leasing and Equitix
OperatorTransport for Wales Rail
DepotTaffs Well
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)
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)
45 mph (tram mode)
Weight73.22 tonnes
Traction motors4 × TSA TMR 42-31-4,
each of 150 kW (201 hp)
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
Multiple workingWithin class
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Notes/references
Sourced from except where otherwise noted.

The Class 398 Citylink 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.

History

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. The franchise award included a requirement that the operator perform a full replacement of its fleets; 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.

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.

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 for testing on the Old Dalby Test Track.

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

The first unit entered service on 23 June 2026, on services to Pontypridd and on the Cardiff Bay branch. However they were withdrawn from service on 19 September 2026 pending software updates after a number of failures.

Operator

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

Fleet details

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

Illustration

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

Named unit

Unit 398028 is named Myddfai.

See also

References

  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. ↑ "Wales has paid millions for trains that people still can't use | Wales Online". www.walesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2026.
  21. ↑ "Freedom of Information Request 201/26". WhatDoTheyKnow / Transport for Wales Rail Limited. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  22. ↑ Butlin, Ashley (December 2025). "Multiple Units". Stock update. The Railway Magazine. Vol. 171, no. 1497. p. 79.