Rolling stock › In serviceData updated
Class 197 Civity
CAF's Civity diesel train, assembled at Llanwern near Newport, and the largest of Transport for Wales's new fleets: 77 units for its regional and longer-distance routes, from the North Wales coast and Conwy Valley to Manchester, Birmingham, Cheltenham and west Wales. 21 two-car units carry ETCS signalling for the Cambrian lines.
Drawing to come
- Type
- Diesel multiple unit
- Builder
- CAF, at Llanwern, Newport
- In service
- since 2022
- Operators
- Transport for Wales
- Formation
- 2 or 3 cars: 51 two-car (DMSL-DMS) and 26 three-car (DMSL-MSL-DMS); 48.05 m or 71.40 m
- Trains in fleet
- 77
- Fleets
- Transport for Wales: 77
- Top speed
- 100 mph
- Power
- Diesel: one MTU 6H 1800 R85L engine of 390 kW under each car, with a ZF EcoLife hydromechanical transmission
- Profile
- main-line
- Air-conditioned
- Yes
- Seats per train
- 116
- Total capacity
- Two-car: 116 seats and 6 tip-up. Three-car: 190 seats and 9 tip-up (TfW, 2026; Railway Gazette gave 188 in 2022). The 14 three-car units built with a first-class end: 158 standard-width and 16 wider seats, and 9 tip-up (TfW, 2026).
- Status
- In service: 77 units, 51 two-car and 26 three-car. Owned by SMBC Leasing and Equitix; maintained by CAF, mainly at Chester.
Car types
| Code | Car | Length | Doors per side |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMSL | Driving motor standard with lavatory (DMSL) | 24.026 m | |
| MSL | Motor standard with lavatory (MSL), in three-car units | 23.35 m | |
| DMS | Driving motor standard (DMS) | 24.026 m |
Sources
- Civity regional diesel train for Wales and Borders, CAF, accessed 11 February 2022 (archived) (Civity UK; 2- and 3-car units, 48,052 and 71,402 mm; 160 km/h; built at Newport)
- Soft launch for Transport for Wales Class 197 DMUs, Railway Gazette International (Rail Business UK), 14 November 2022 (77 units: 51 two-car (116 seats, 21 with ETCS), 12 three-car (188 seats), 14 three-car (158 standard and 16 first); MTU 390 kW engine per car, ZF EcoLife; 160 km/h; first in service 14 November 2022; maintained by CAF at Chester, Canton and Machynlleth)
- Authorisation of Class 197 diesel multiple units (UK/51/2022/0003), Office of Rail and Road, 13 January 2022 (authorisation, 13 January 2022: 197/0 two-car (DMSL-DMS) and 197/1 three-car (DMSL-MSL-DMS); 160 km/h; up to three units together)
- Table 2B: Rolling Stock Minimum Requirements and Specifications, Sprinter / Rural Service Type (Wales and Borders contract, schedule 1.6; redacted), Transport for Wales (car lengths 24.026 and 23.35 m; doors at the third points)
- A guide to our fleet of trains: fleet accessibility specifications (V3, updated June 2026), Transport for Wales, June 2026 (77 units, 51 two-car and 26 three-car; seats; routes (June 2026))
- Our story, Transport for Wales, accessed 7 October 2026 (launched in 2023 at Llandudno; air conditioning; made in Wales)
- KeolisAmey takes over Wales and Borders franchise, International Railway Journal, 15 October 2018 (ordered in 2018 as part of the 148-train fleet; assembled at Llanwern)
- Case study: Wales & Borders, commercial and contract management, Apex Rail, accessed 7 October 2026 (owned by SMBC Leasing and Equitix)
- British Rail Class 197, Wikipedia, accessed 7 October 2026 (cross-check of build years and engine output (last resort))
unverified car lengths: 24.026 m (driving cars) and 23.35 m (intermediate) from TfW's contract table for the three-car standard-class units; they match CAF's train lengths of 48,052 and 71,402 mm, height and width: not found, doors: TfW's contract table puts two doorways a side on each car, at the third points; the leaf type isn't stated in a source read, build years: not confirmed (Wikipedia, citing a TfW FOI reply that couldn't be opened, gives 2020 to 2026), engine output: Railway Gazette gives 390 kW; Wikipedia 375 kW, first class: Railway Gazette (2022) said 14 three-car units would have 16 first-class seats; TfW's 2026 guide calls them wider seats, so they may be declassified, owners: SMBC Leasing and Equitix, from a consultant's case study (Apex Rail)