Stadler has announced that it is about to start the project to supply CITYLINK tram-trains and FLIRT trains for Wales & Borders.
The new trains and trams are to be operated by Transport for Wales Rail Services.
The contract is for 36 three-car CITYLINK tram-trains and 35 FLIRT, or Fast Light Intercity and Regional Train, units.
The three-car tram-trains will use 25 kV as well as battery power. Of the 35 FLIRT
units 11 will be diesel-operated and will be used on South Wales Metro services.
The other 24 FLIRT units will be tri-mode, capable of running on diesel, overhead electric wires and battery power. The tri-mode fleet consists of seven three-car and 17 four-car trains.
Coming into service in 2023, they will be powered by electricity to the north of Cardiff and diesel to the south, providing a cross-city connection.
Stadler already has contracts in the UK. From 2019, 58 new trains will enter service on the Greater Anglia network and 17 on the Glasgow Subway in the next few years. The next few years will also see 52 new trains will be introduced on Merseyrail. Stadler Class 68 and 88 locomotives, ordered in 2013, are already a common sight in the UK.
What did the officials say?
Ralf Warwel, UK sales director at Stadler, commented:
‘Stadler is delighted to be supplying 71 state-of-theart new trains for Transport for Wales Rail Services. This order will bolster our presence in Great Britain and we look forward to working with our clients in Wales. With its emphasis on battery power, the project puts us at the forefront of cutting edge, green technology, and we are especially proud of that.'
Kevin Thomas, chief executive officer of Transport for Wales Rail Services, said:
‘Our journey has begun and we are all absolutely determined to create a transport network that is fit for the future. It's really exciting to know that Cardiff will see the return of a tram operation for the first time in over 70 years, while the tri-modes being built by Stadler will offer an efficient and cost-effective electric drive and battery operation. 2022 can't come soon enough for us or our passengers.'
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Class 39x CITYLINK and Class 75x FLIRT rolling stocks for Transport for Wales Rail.
Similar to what Stadler have built the Class 399 CITYLINK tram-train stocks for Sheffield Supertram that operates between Sheffield and Rotherham and the Class 745 EMU and Class 755 Bi-Mode FLIRT trains that is currently being built for Greater Anglia. With some have already arrived in the UK and will be based at Norwich Crown Depot in Norwich, East Anglia.
TfW Rail Class 75x FLIRT will be built as Tri-mode*