Stadler and Transport for Wales (TfW) have put into operation the first brand-new South Wales Metro train at an event held in Cardiff on March 29, where the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters also attended.
Providing increased capacity with more and improved seating, modern air conditioning, power sockets and passenger information screens with up-to-the-minute travel information, the new trains will transform the customer experience. Each train will have space for up to six bikes and automatic level boarding to assist passengers with limited mobility.
With the first South Wales Metro train officially launched on the Rhymney Valley line, TfW will continue to introduce 35 of these trains over the coming years throughout South Wales, along with 36 electric tram-trains.
“Travelling on these new carriages is such a different experience from travelling on the old ones. There’s more room, it’s much more comfortable and it is quieter and smoother. Come and give them a try,” Deputy Minister for Climate Change, with a responsibility for transport, Lee Waters said.
In December 2021, Stadler delivered TfW the first two new Class 231 trains at the Canton depot, in Cardiff which entered trials in 2022. Stadler is supplying Transport for Wales a total fleet of 71 trains, of which 35 Flirt trains and 36 three-car CityLink tram-trains with both unit types able to use battery power to bridge unelectrified sections.
The Class 231 Flirt trains are manufactured to operate the Wales and Borders rail network and are part of a GBP 800 million (EUR 910.4 million) investment committed by the Welsh Government for new trains.
“We introduced our CAF Class 197 to the network at the start of the year and we’re proud to launch another brand-new train in the Stadler Class 231 train. The South Wales Metro is a phased project and today signifies it is now starting to be delivered,” James Price, Transport for Wales CEO said.
TfW has also put into passenger services the first Class 230 battery-hybrid train on the Borderlands Line linking Wrexham and Bidston.
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