Transport for Wales (TfW) received from Stadler the first two of 35 new Class 231 Flirt trains to which will transform the train travel in Wales, providing increased capacity and improved services.
The new trains arrived at TfW depot at Canton, in Cardiff, and will be tested and are expected to enter passenger operation next year.
“The arrival of these brand-new trains is another major milestone for TfW and signifies another step forward on our transformational programme to deliver a transport network that the people of Wales can be proud of,” James Price, Transport for Wales CEO said.
Working with train manufacturers Stadler and CAF, TfW is investing GBP 800 million (EUR 940 million) in new trains for the Wales and borders network.
The Class 231 Flirt trains will be a key part of the South Wales Metro, the three quarters of billion-pound transformational project being delivered by Transport for Wales, providing more capacity and more frequent services that will be greener for the environment.
“The new vehicles are a transformational improvement on the trains that they will be replacing across South Wales offering greater capacity, more frequent services with improved facilities encouraging people to leave their cars behind and move onto a more sustainable form of transport,” Lee Waters, Deputy Minister for Climate Change said.
In 2019, TfW awarded Stadler a contract to supply 36 three-car CityLink tram-trains and the 35 Flirt trains of which 11 will be diesel-operated and 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.
The trains are expected to be delivered by 2023. They will be powered by electricity to the north of Cardiff and diesel to the south, providing a cross-city connection.
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