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The article reports that a fleet of 36 new publicly funded tram-trains for the South Wales Metro project, costing over £200 million, remain largely unused more than three years after the first unit arrived. Initially promised to be fully operational by 2022, Transport for Wales (TfW) now expects full service by the end of 2027, five years behind schedule.
Key points include:
– Less than half (16) of the 36 tram-trains have passed necessary statutory testing, with the remainder still undergoing scrutiny by the rail regulator.
– The tram-trains, officially Class 398 Citylink multiple units from Swiss manufacturer Stadler, were ordered in 2018, with the first arriving in Wales in March 2023.
– TfW CEO James Price emphasized the importance of trains working “100% well, 100% of the time” before full deployment.
– The delays are partly due to software issues affecting the automation systems that control the fleet.
– Six tram-trains are currently in passenger testing but have been temporarily withdrawn at times for reliability and “teething” issues.
– The South Wales Metro project is the largest infrastructure scheme since Welsh devolution, aiming to convert an old railway network into a rapid transit system similar to the London Underground.
– Doubling the number of trains per hour on certain routes is now expected by the end of 2027, not 2022 as initially promised.
– The fleet has been stored at a new £100 million depot near Cardiff, with some units idle for up to three and a half years.
– The project has faced criticism due to delays, rising costs, and unmet targets but TfW notes that earlier introduction of other train units (Class 756) improved service reliability on some lines.
Overall, while the tram-trains represent a key component of the South Wales Metro vision, technical and regulatory challenges have significantly delayed their introduction into passenger service
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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