Stadler to deliver 71 new vehicles for Wales & Borders
Posted: 4 March 2019 | Global Railway Review | No comments yet
This major contract is for 36 three-car CITYLINK tram-trains and 35 FLIRT (Fast Light Intercity and Regional Train) units.
Transport for Wales Rail Services has ordered CITYLINK tram-trains and FLIRT trains from Stadler for operation on Wales & Borders services.
The CITYLINK three-car tram-trains will use 25kV as well as battery power, and of the 35 FLIRT units, 11 will be diesel-operated. 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: 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 a cost-effective way of providing a fully electric, environmentally-friendly service north of Cardiff by enabling ‘smart electrification’ of the infrastructure.
Ralf Warwel, UK Sales Director at Stadler, commented: “Stadler is delighted to be supplying 71 state-of-the-art new trains for Transport for Wales Rail Services. This order will bolster our presence in Great Britain and we look forward to working with our clients in Wales. With its emphasis on battery power, the project puts us at the forefront of cutting edge, green technology, and we are especially proud of that.”
Stadler already has several contracts in the UK. From 2019, 58 new trains will enter service on the Greater Anglia network and from 2020, 52 new trains will be introduced on Merseyrail. Stadler trains first started running in this country in 2013, and the Class 68 and 88 locomotives are well established work-horses on the British rail landscape.
Kevin Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Transport for Wales Rail Services, said: “Our journey has begun and we are all absolutely determined to create a transport network that is fit for the future. It’s really exciting to know that Cardiff will see the return of a tram operation for the first time in over 70 years, while the tri-modes being built by Stadler will offer an efficient and cost-effective electric drive and battery operation.”
