TfW takes delivery of its first Stadler 'Flirt' units
The initial two out of 11 new trains for South Wales arrive at Cardiff Canton.
THE first pair of Class 231 Stadler ‘Flirt’ diesel multiple units has arrived in the UK and been delivered to Transport for Wales’ Cardiff Canton depot.
Nos. 231002/004 were hauled from Ripple Lane to the Welsh depot by
No. 66001, departing late on
November 18 and arriving the next morning. The units have been constructed at Stadler’s Bussnang factory in Switzerland and moved to the UK via the Channel Tunnel.
Transport for Wales has 11 Class
231 units on order, made up of four vehicles, plus a power pack. Intended for use on the Cardiff to Cheltenham route, as well as the Maesteg and Ebbw Vale branches, they are similar in design to the Class 755 ‘Flirt’ units operated by Greater Anglia, but without any overhead line capability. They should enter service in 2022 (see also Preview, p6).
THREE FLEETS ON ORDER
The Class 231s are one of three fleets on order from Stadler. Due to begin entering service next year are the Class 398 ‘tram trains’, which are to be used on the Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert branches, and will eventually undertake street running between Cardiff Bay and a new station at Flourish. The Class 398 fleet is being built at Valencia in Spain.
Also under construction are 24
Class 756 sets, which are also similar to Greater Anglia’s ‘755s’, but offer battery power in addition to diesel and electric. Transport for Wales says it expects its first tri-mode set to arrive during 2022, but a firm date is not yet known.
■ Testing of Class 197 ‘Civity’ units from Crewe to Chester and the North Wales coast is continuing. Four sets (Nos. 197001-003/101) have appeared
so far, with No. 197102 being located at Crewe Gresty Bridge.
No. 197004 was delivered to
Telford Railfreight Terminal in early November, with No. 197006 following on November 22.
E