First electric trains introduced to 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. They will run on the Valley lines in South Wales for the first time ever signifying a huge moment in the delivery of the next phase of the South Wales Metro. They entered passenger service first on the Merthyr and Aberdare lines, followed by the Treherbert line. In a phased introduction, they will replace TfW’s older trains, with fourteen FLIRTs to be in service by Spring next year (2025).  

Transport for Wales has already introduced sixty-five brand-new trains and seven premier Class MK4 trains to the Wales and Borders network over the last two years as part of their 800 million GBP investment into new fleets. Built by Stadler, the new Class 756s will be powered by the recently installed overhead electrified wires (25 kV 50 Hz). These FLIRTs are the first in the UK that can use diesel or battery on sections of railway track where there are no overhead wires.

The transformation of the Core Valley Lines for the Metro has been part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government and will enable faster, more frequent services between Cardiff and the heads of the valleys.