TfW reveals classifications of new fleets

Transport for Wales has confirmed the identities of the new trains it has on order.

The 77 CAF diesel multiple units being built in Newport will be Class 197s. The 51 two-car and 26 threecar trains will enter traffic from 2022 and operate on regional TfW services as well as on the Conwy Valley and Cambrian lines. They follow the Spanish manufacturer’s Class 195s for Northern and ‘196s’ for West Midlands Railway.

Eleven four-car diesel-electric units from Stadler will be Class 231s. These will run on the Maesteg-Cardiff Central-Cheltenham and Ebbw Vale lines from 2022.

Tri-mode trains on order from Stadler will be designated Class 756s. Seven three-car and 17 four-car sets are on order, following on from Greater Anglia’s Class 755 bi-modes. The three-cars will run between Caerphilly/Coryton-Penarth, while the longer sets will run from RhymneyBarry Island/Bridgend.

Finally, the 36 three-car tram-trains also on order from Stadler will be designated Class 398s and will serve the Valley Lines.

The operator has already taken delivery of 11 of the 12 Class 170/2s transferring from Greater Anglia, along with five Class 153s also from GA.

Three of the latter (153309/ 314/322) ran from Norwich to Landore (Swansea) on December 2, followed by 153306/335 on December 3. They had been sent off-lease on December 1, having been removed from traffic by GA on November 30.

Meanwhile, Vivarail has yet to deliver any of the five hybrid Class 230s for TfW. These will now no longer serve the Conwy Valley line due to gauging restraints, and instead will run between WrexhamBidston and Crewe-Chester.

The first of the five three-car

‘230s’ is undergoing testing at Long Marston, while driver training is using 230002 on the main line.

Class 769 Flex sets have also been delayed, forcing TfW to retain Pacers and Class 37-hauled trains until the May 2020 timetable change.