Brand new electric tram-trains have begun testing on recently electrified lines in part of the UK. However, unlike the current trains servicing this part of the world, these modern vehicles will not be equipped with toilets for passengers.
These state-of-the-art tram-trains are part of the £1bn South Wales Metro project which will serve Cardiff and the South Wales Valleys. But if passengers need to use the loo, they’ll have to disembark and use the station facilities before catching the next train. Transport for Wales (TfW) assures passengers that “a toilet will always be available within a 20-minute journey on our network”.
TfW plans for passengers on the Merthyr, Aberdare and Treherbert lines to be using the metro-style Stadler Class 398 tram-trains by late 2025, replacing the brand-new Class 756 trains that have been running since autumn.
The Class 756 trains, which do have fully accessible toilets, will then be transferred to the Rhymney and Coryton lines, currently undergoing electrification. Rail staff have expressed concerns about the new toilet-free Valleys tram-trains, with one anonymous staff member admitting many are “dreading” their introduction into service.
Commuters are raising concerns over the lack of toilets on new tram-trains, with worries about the elderly and families with children facing inconvenience. “The lack of toilets is something that’s going to become an issue. If someone elderly needs to go, or there are families with small children onboard, are they really expected to get off with all their belongings and then catch the train behind?” one concerned passenger told WalesOnline.
Brand new electric tram-trains are now being tested on the recently electrified lines in South Wales (Image: Transport for Wales)
They also highlighted potential issues on weekends: “And what about Friday and Saturday nights, for example, when passengers have been enjoying themselves at the pub beforehand? I’m sure you can guess what problems are likely to arise from the lack of onboard loos in that instance.”
Transport for Wales, however, has defended the design choice, stating that to provide faster journeys and increased capacity, compromises had to be made, as “adding toilets on board would significantly reduce the capacity of the trains”.
Of course, they won’t be the only trains in the UK running with no trains. There are no trains on any London Underground service, by far the UK’s busiest rail network.
The innovative trains, capable of running on both rail and tram lines and operating on overhead electrical lines and battery power, can transport over 250 passengers across three carriages.
In a bid to alleviate some of the inconvenience, Transport for Wales announced that as part of the South Wales Metro upgrades, new toilet facilities will be installed at 10 stations.
A Transport for Wales (TfW) spokesperson said: “Transport for Wales is currently testing brand-new, modern tram-trains that will run on electric and battery power as part of the South Wales Metro. We are totally transforming the way in which people travel – the Stadler Class 398 tram-trains will deliver a turn-up-and-go service, quicker journeys and more capacity.
“They have the ability to run on-street as a tram, as well as on the rail network, and there are limited options in the global rolling stock market for this type of tram-train with toilets onboard. They are built to quickly move as many people as possible and adding toilets on board would significantly reduce the capacity of the trains.
“This type of train is used successfully in other cities within the UK and no other Metro system in the UK runs this type of tram with toilets onboard.
“We want to ensure our passengers still have access to toilet facilities when using our network. To do this, we’re installing 10 new, fully accessible toilets at key locations across these lines and upgrading our existing station facilities, so that passengers can be confident a toilet will always be available within a 20-minute journey on our network.”
