CITYLINK tram-trains for use in South Wales are being displayed this week in Berlin at InnoTrans, which is the world’s leading trade fair for transport technology.

In 2019, Transport for Wales ordered 36 CITYLINK vehicles and 35 FLIRT trains. CITYLINKs are light-rail vehicles designed to connect city centres with outlying areas using both conventional railway lines and tram networks and will serve the South Wales Metro lines. They incorporate traction battery systems so that they can also be used on non-electrified lines.

The vehicle’s builder, Stadler, is officially unveiling seven vehicles at InnoTrans, three of which are destined for the UK market. As well as CITYLINKs, they are unveiling FLIRTs that are intended for use on the Valley lines north of Cardiff and a METRO IPEMU for the Liverpool City Region.

CITYLINKs have the advantage that they can operate on both railway and tram lines, thereby avoiding the need for passengers to change from train to tram, which will promote seamless travel and significantly increase the attractiveness of public transport in Wales. As well as running on 25kV AC electrified lines, CITYLINKs can operate on non-electrified lines using traction batteries which are being used on them for the first time.

CITYLINK vehicles have a driver’s cab at each end and a top speed of 100 km/h, are 40 metres long and can carry 252 passengers. They feature spacious, bright, and air-conditioned Passenger compartments are, and have multifunctional areas for bicycles, seats for people with reduced mobility, and two wheelchair passenger spaces.

Transport for Wales plans to introduce the CITYLINK fleet into passenger service next year, and they are currently undergoing dynamic testing at Network Rail’s Rail Innovation and Development Centre at Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire.

Stadler already has over 650 CITYLINK and TRAMLINK vehicles in service in eight countries, and they are particularly popular in mainland Europe.

Ralf Warwel, sales director for the UK and Ireland at Stadler, said: “The CITYLINK boasts enviable environmental credentials and will bring about a step-change in passenger travel. It illustrates Stadler’s pledge to provide ever greener solutions, supporting the decarbonisation of the railway, both in Wales and beyond.”

Alexia Course, Transport for Wales chief commercial officer, said: “We’re extremely proud to have our new Stadler trains on show at InnoTrans this year and we’re excited to start introducing them to our Wales and Borders network over the coming months and years. We’re on a transformational journey at Transport for Wales and these new trains are a key part of improving the customer experience, so that we can encourage more people to travel sustainably on public transport. These are modern trains, with high-quality features that will offer our customers more accessible, reliable and greener transport.”