Transport for Wales begins testing Class 398 tram-trains on South Wales Metro

Transport for Wales has begun testing its new Class 398 tram-trains on South Wales Metro routes.

The three-car sets can operate using overhead line equipment or battery power, and are intended for use on the Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr lines, allowing Class 756 and ‘231s’ to be reallocated across other routes.

The first Citylink unit to roll out for traincrew testing (398005) reached stations including Treherbert on April 15.

Andrew Gazzard, Head of Operational Readiness at TfW said: “Our teams now need to gain familiarisation and handling experience of the trains, and we need to embark on driver training later in the year.”

TfW Chief Operating Officer, Marie Daly, added: “This is another major milestone for us at TfW. We’ve already introduced our brand-new Class 756 trains onto the Merthyr, Aberdare, and Treherbert lines to improve the experience for our passengers. We’re now excited to progress to the next phase of the project, testing our light rail tram-trains that will offer a turn-up-and-go service as part of the South Wales Metro.”

The 36 units, which can carry more than 250 passengers, will be based in the new £100 million Taff’s Well depot which also includes a control centre for the Metro.