British Rail Class 398

The Class 398 Citylink^[7] is a fleet of 36 tram-train multiple units being built for Transport for Wales Rail by Swiss rolling stock manufacturer Stadler Rail.

British Rail Class 398 Citylink
Class 398 on test at Abercynon in April 2025
In service	Planned for 2025[1]
Manufacturer	Stadler Rail
Assembly	Stadler Rail Valencia SAU
Built at	Valencia, Spain
Family name	Citylink
Replaced	Class 150 Class 153
Constructed	2020–present[2]
Number under construction	36
Formation	3 cars per unit
Fleet numbers	398001–398036
Capacity	252 (126 seated, 126 standing)
Owners	SMBC Leasing[3]
Operators	Transport for Wales Rail
Depots	Taff's Well[4]
Specifications
Car body construction	Stainless steel
Train length	40.07 m (131 ft 6 in)
Width	2.650 m (8 ft 8.3 in)
Floor height	915 mm (36 in) at doors
Doors	Double-leaf sliding plug (1 per side per vehicle)
Wheel diameter	740 mm (29 in)
Maximum speed	62 mph (100 km/h)
Traction motors	4 × TSA TMR 42-31-4, each of 150 kW (201 hp)[5]
Power output	600 kW (805 hp)
Electric system(s)	25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead
Current collector(s)	Pantograph
UIC classification	Bo′+2′2′+Bo′
Minimum turning radius	25 m (82 ft)
Multiple working	Within class
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Notes/references
Sourced from [6] except where otherwise noted.

The units will be 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]

History

Mock up of the outside of a Class 398 tram-train in early 2020

Mock up of the inside of a Class 398 tram-train in early 2020

The Wales & Borders rail franchise was awarded to KeolisAmey Wales in May 2018 and commenced on 14 October 2018.^[8] The franchise award included a requirement that the operator perform a full replacement of its fleets;^[9] 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.^[10]

All units are three cars and are able to be coupled together to form a six car unit. Each three car unit has a maximum passenger capacity of 256, units will have level boarding, space for bikes, wheelchairs and pushchairs. All seats will have access to plug and USB-A style sockets.^[11][12]

The first unit to arrive in the UK was 398001, delivered from the Valencia works to the Rail Innovation & Development Centre in Melton, Leicestershire^[13] for testing on the Old Dalby Test Track.

The first unit was delivered to Taff's Well depot on 21 March 2023.^[14] TfW have stated that entry into service is planned for 2025.^[1]

Operator

Transport for Wales

When built, Transport for Wales Rail Class 398 units will operate services on the Rhondda, Merthyr and Cardiff City lines,^[14] and the Cardiff Bay Branch.

Fleet details

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

See also

• British Rail Class 399, related Vossloh Citylink tram-trains built in the mid-2010s for Sheffield Supertram