The Class 398 tram-train was delivered to the new Taff’s Well depot. Credit: TfW.

The South Wales Metro in the UK has announced the arrival of the first Class 398 tram-train at the new Transport for Wales (TfW) depot in Taff’s Well.

Built by Swiss train maker Stadler, the Class 398 tram-train was delivered to the TfW depot after undergoing numerous trials at Network Rail’s Rail Innovation and Development Centre in Leicestershire.

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Being a crucial part of the South Wales Metro, the 36 tram-trains will offer more frequent and sustainable services upon starting service next year on the Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr and City lines.

TfW chief infrastructure officer Dan Tipper said: “The delivery of the first tram-train to our new Taff’s Well depot is a major milestone in the development of the South Wales Metro and the culmination of a significant effort from TfW colleagues and our industry partners over the last few months.

“We’re on a transformational journey at TfW and these new trains are a key part of improving the customer experience so that we can encourage more people to travel sustainably on public transport.

“These are modern trains, with high-quality features that will offer our customers more accessible, reliable and greener transport.”

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The investment in the Metro is expected to notably boost connectivity while opening up access to jobs and other opportunities for the people of Wales. 

TfW is spending more than £800m on new trains for the Wales and Borders network, collaborating with Stadler and Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF).

Earlier this year, TfW launched a new fleet of 77 Class 197 trains to enhance services across this network.