TfW class 398 Stadler Citylink tram trains

[anthony263]

Nice to see that some running has finally started.

Does anyone know why they have splashed some yellow on the ends, and whether it's a temporary measure or not?

Wrong lights apparently.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

A smart-looking vehicle ruined. TfW 230s also.

 

[Last Hurrah]

South Wales Metro Update 16 June . .

Yellow Front Ends are a temporary measure to allow early testing - Headlights need to be adjusted to comply with “Vehicle Visibility Legislation”

 

[javelin]

This is well-known legislation, so you wonder why they weren't fitted with compliant headlights in the first place.

 

[Anonymous10]

This is well known legislation, so you wonder why they weren't fitted with compliant headlights in the first place.

Possibly there was a supply issue for these units ?

 

[Envoy]

Any chance of these 398’s being able to get working the City Line (Radyr > Coryton) sooner rather than later? If so, would they have enough battery power to do the non electrified bit and get back to the wires again?

 

[D365]

The requirements for non-yellow front ends are very specific, so it sounds like a vehicle assessor wasn’t able to validate the Class 398’s compliance at this time.

 

[J-2739]

They do look pretty horrible with the yellow front, I can't lie.

 

[twpsaesneg]

One thing the videos show is that despite hitting every branch on the ugly tree with regards to the front end, the new units do seem to make full use of the loading gauge and appear spacious and bright inside. They appeared deceptively narrow when viewed with no platforms adjacent.

 

[rf_ioliver]

OK, I have to admit that these actually look very nice - was expecting something more "tram-like". I agree with another poster who said that these units actually take advantage of the loading gauge.
As for the yellow front end - after seeing the videos (thanks!) what is all the fuss about - I was honestly expecting something like the old electric units from NSE but in some bizarre neon yellow given the comments - it looks fine, nothing horrendous about it.

 

[Western 52]

OK, I have to admit that these actually look very nice - was expecting something more "tram-like". I agree with another poster who said that these units actually take advantage of the loading gauge.
As for the yellow front end - after seeing the videos (thanks!) what is all the fuss about - I was honestly expecting something like the old electric units from NSE but in some bizarre neon yellow given the comments - it looks fine, nothing horrendous about it.

Presumably the yellow is temporary until they adjust the lights?

 

[56xx]

I think the yellow actually improves the front end. It makes it look less narrow. The video alongside the platform does show the main body width and the interior does look good and roomy.

 

[Bob Price]

Any chance of these 398’s being able to get working the City Line (Radyr > Coryton) sooner rather than later? If so, would they have enough battery power to do the non electrified bit and get back to the wires again?

To be honest no. There are specific lines these will work on and drivers are unlikely to be signed on these to Coryton. Not the planned use for them at all.

 

[Anonymous10]

To be honest no. There are specific lines these will work on and drivers are unlikely to be signed on these to Coryton. Not the planned use for them at all.

I could see if they wanted a cadre or trained drivers and the delays in electrification being great enough they might be used on the line. It would free up dmu's. Of course subject to clearance

 

[craigybagel]

To be honest no. There are specific lines these will work on and drivers are unlikely to be signed on these to Coryton. Not the planned use for them at all.

All the drivers who sign Coryton will sign 398s. Whether or not the units are cleared for the line is another matter.

 

[DenmarkRail]

Will these units be diagramed to usually operate in a 3+3? Obviously short forms happen, but in the main what’s the plan?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Will these units be diagramed to usually operate in a 3+3? Obviously short forms happen, but in the main what’s the plan?

Would the lines fit that? Doesn't it mostly use single 150s, which are the same length as the 397s.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Would the lines fit that? Doesn't it mostly use single 150s, which are the same length as the 397s.

Some services use doubles, and most if not all of the platforms they'll be running to can accommodate 2 x 150. With the reduced routes they'll be running, compared to the 150s today, I'd imagine they'll want to increase the capacity as well as the frequency.

 

[Anonymous10]

Would the lines fit that? Doesn't it mostly use single 150s, which are the same length as the 397s.

They can fit double 150s so no reason why they can't.

 

[AdamWW]

Would the lines fit that? Doesn't it mostly use single 150s, which are the same length as the 397s.

I think the City Line (Cardiff to Radyr via Danescourt etc.) currently only takes single 150s (even a 153x2 is too long?)

But the platforms appear to be being extended at the moment.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Some services use doubles, and most if not all of the platforms they'll be running to can accommodate 2 x 150.

Weren't a lot of the platforms extended to accommodate 6 carriages over a decade ago now? (back before the idea of tram trains was a thing).

 

[PaulHarding150]

Weren't a lot of the platforms extended to accommodate 6 carriages over a decade ago now? (back before the idea of tram trains was a thing).

They were on the Merthyr/RCT lines, not on the Coryton line which is what the question was referring to.

I'm trying to find it (but the Senedd's website search function is useless), there was a written question five years after the work was complete confirming that appart from the odd match day and strike day (when there was a limited timetable) no six car train formations had been used.

 

[Last Hurrah]

A decade or so ago, maybe even longer, EU money enabled platforms to be extended for 6 car trains on Penarth - Rhymney + other Valley Lines (not sure if they were all done)

Having had all this work done, ATW didn’t /couldn’t/ wouldn’t bring in additional stock to make use of the upgrade

 

[anthony263]

Rhymney and Treherbert line can take 6 carriage trains. Only 4 carriage trains on aberdare and merthyr tydfil branches

 

[Anonymous10]

A decade or so ago, maybe even longer, EU money enabled platforms to be extended for 6 car trains on Penarth - Rhymney + other Valley Lines (not sure if they were all done)

Having had all this work done, ATW didn’t /couldn’t/ wouldn’t bring in additional stock to make use of the upgrade

It was about 10 years ago maybe a year longer but no more recent.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Rhymney and Treherbert line can take 6 carriage trains. Only 4 carriage trains on aberdare and merthyr tydfil branches

398s are 40m in total, the same as a single 150. 2 150 cars = 3 398 cars.
Probably not the best to use car lengths for this with how small 398s are.

 

[PaulHarding150]

It was about 10 years ago maybe a year longer but no more recent.

Cathays was being finished when I moved to Cardiff in the autumn of 2008.

 

[Anonymous10]

Cathays was being finished when I moved to Cardiff in the autumn of 2008.

Pretty sure tir phil wasn't done till about 2012 or 2013

 

[Last Hurrah]

Pretty sure tir phil wasn't done till about 2012 or 2013

That was a separate project to install 2nd platform & passing loop enabling a 30 minute service service to Rhymney

Having installed infrastructure to make it happen, ATW didn’t deliver

 

[Dai Corner]

That was a separate project to install 2nd platform & passing loop enabling a 30 minute service service to Rhymney

Having installed infrastructure to make it happen, ATW didn’t deliver

Or, rather, the Government didn't specify and fund.