Welsh Gov Readies 36 Stadler Tram-Trains After £800M Investment

Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan confirmed that new Class 398 CityLink tram-trains are in the final stages of testing. The units are scheduled for introduction into service this spring on key routes of the Core Valleys Lines network, a suburban system serving the Cardiff metropolitan area. The announcement was made at the Taffs Well depot, the designated base for the new fleet.

The procurement is a component of an £800 million investment by the Welsh Government in new rolling stock. The contract, signed with Stadler in 2019, includes 36 CityLink tram-trains and 35 Flirt trains. This fleet acquisition is supported by a wider infrastructure transformation in South Wales valued at over £1 billion. The infrastructure project involves the electrification of more than 170 km of railway lines.

A new, purpose-built depot at Taff’s Well was constructed at a cost of £100 million. This facility will function as both a control center for the network and the maintenance and stabling location for the 36 tram-trains. The depot was officially inaugurated in November 2025.

The Class 398 vehicle is a hybrid unit capable of running on both electric and battery power, allowing for operation on electrified and non-electrified sections of the network. Manufactured by Stadler, the tram-trains can achieve speeds of 100 km/h on the main rail network. The vehicles entered their testing phase in April 2025.

Each unit is 40 meters long, consists of three cars, and has a stated capacity of over 250 passengers. The interior design features level platform access, modern air conditioning, power sockets, and improved passenger information screens. The layout provides six multifunctional spaces for bicycles, two dedicated positions for wheelchair users, and additional seats for people with reduced mobility.

This specific project is occurring within a broader context of rail investment in the region. Verification data confirms a separate, larger £14bn rail funding package for Wales from the UK government. That investment is allocated for different projects, including the construction of seven new stations and other network upgrades, indicating parallel funding streams for Welsh rail infrastructure.

Upon completion of the final testing phase, the new fleet will be deployed on the Merthyr, Aberdare, and Treherbert lines. These services will include routes running to Cardiff and Cardiff Bay.