News

On 15 April 2025, brand-new electric tram-trains started testing on the recently electrified Valleys railway lines, as TfW take another step forward with delivering the next phase of the South Wales Metro.

Electric ‘tri-mode’ trains were introduced to passenger services for the first time in the UK on 18 November 2024 as part of the South Wales Metro. 

History was made this month as the very first electric train ran north of Cardiff to Pontypridd during daylight hours.  

Transport for Wales will now increase train service frequency on its Liverpool - Chester route (via Liverpool Airport), and on the Ebbw Vale branch, in January 2024. 

On 31 July 2023 the Class 398 tram-trains that will revolutionise transport across the South Wales valleys have been unveiled at their new 100 million GBP depot at Taff’s Well, northwest of Cardiff.

First South Wales Metro tram-train arrives at new depot.

On 29 March 2023, the first of the new South Wales Metro trains were launched by Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters MS.

On 3 April 2023 railway history was made on the Borderlands Line between Wrexham and Bidston as Transport for Wales (TfW) introduced the first battery-hybrid trains used in regular passenger service in Wales. 

18 January 2023 saw the first of the 71 FLIRTs for Transport for Wales to start the commercial service.

On 26 January 2023 the first of Transport for Wales’ brand new 800 million GBP fleet of trains was officially launched by Lesley Griffiths MS at a ceremony in North Wales.

Stadler also presented in Berlin the CITYLINK tram-train 398 004 for TfW.

The third FLIRT in Berlin was the tri-mode version for TfW, belonging to the FLIRT UK family.

After an enforced covid break, the InnoTrans fair will take place again after four years.

On 13 May 2022, rail services have resumed on the valley lines between Pontypridd, Aberdare and Radyr following a three-week closure for the building of the South Wales Metro.