Wales & Borders ordered 36 three-car Citylink tram-trains and 35 Flirt trains from Stadler for a total of 71 trains which will enter services from 2022.
The 36 Citylink three-car tram-trains will operate from Cardiff to Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil, relying on 25 kV as well as battery power.
The remaining 35 units will be of the Flirt type, 11 of which will be diesel-operated and used on South Wales Metro services to Maesteg, Ebbw Vale and Cheltenham. The other 24 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 on-stream in 2023, the 24 tri-mode trains will be used on routes linking the Vale of Glamorgan and destinations north of Cardiff. They will be powered by electricity to the north of Cardiff, and diesel to the south, providing a cross-city connection.
The use of batteries on tram-trains and tri-modes is an innovative and cost-effective solution that will provide a fully electric, environmentally friendly service north of Cardiff by enabling “smart electrification” on the infrastructure. “Smart electrification” will enable a fully electric service to be provided while minimising infrastructure costs and the need for costly modifications to 55 of the bridges along the routes, particularly north of Caerphilly.
Trains will be longer and have more seats, which have been ergonomically designed to maximise passenger comfort. Each seat will be fitted with power sockets. Other features include air-conditioning throughout and wide passenger information screens, providing customers with up-to-the-minute travel information. Other benefits include additional space for up to six bikes on each train and level boarding to assist with prams and mobility scooters.
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