Digital automatic coupler news

DAC is intended to provide a physical automatic centre coupling between wagons and locomotives, with electrical and data connections to support a variety of digital functions. DAC is being widely hailed as a game changer that will boost the efficiency of rail freight and revitalise wagonload operations across Europe, and work is underway to finalise the standards and develop migration strategies.

.

ch-SBB and Ducrot pics September 2024-TB (14)

Interview: SBB’s Ducrot prioritises co-operation over competition

2024-10-23T10:11:00+01:00

Chief Executive of Swiss Federal Railways Vincent Ducrot is keenly aware of the need to keep passenger and freight customers satisfied. Toma Bačić asked how his strategy would achieve that objective. 

Train2InnoTrans (2)

Comment: Rail must respond to Draghi’s challenge

2024-10-09T09:16:00+01:00

A recent review by Mario Draghi suggests that rail can play a key role in supporting Europe’s economic competitiveness and addressing environmental challenges, but sector representatives argue that much remains to be done in the next EU legislative period to address outstanding issues.

A Voith electrical connection has been selected as the standard design for freight trains equipped with Digital Automatic Couplers (Photo: FP5-TRANS4RM-R)

DAC programme agrees electrical coupler standard

2024-08-08T10:00:00+01:00

EUROPE: A Voith electrical connection has been selected as the standard design for freight trains equipped with Digital Automatic Couplers, and approved by the European DAC Delivery Programme Supervisory Board.

2011-DSC01991

Rail Logistics: Freight trains are getting smarter

2024-07-25T06:00:00+01:00

While the complex migration to operation using digital automatic couplers lies ahead, Europe’s freight trains are already being digitalised. Reinhard Christeller presents a snapshot of the benefits in safety, productivity and cost effectiveness.

Digital automatic coupler (Photo: DB Cargo)

Rail freight associations raise ‘serious concerns’ about digital automatic couplers

2024-07-09T11:00:00+01:00

EUROPE: ‘Serious concerns’ about the competitive, economic, technical and operational impact of deploying digital automatic couplers have been set out by associations representing private freight operators in central and eastern Europe. They say DAC offers numerous benefits, but ‘hasty and arbitrary solutions could further hamper the competitiveness of the rail ...

DSC_0017

Freight: ‘Nobody is writing us a cheque for €13bn’

2024-06-06T06:00:00+01:00

European policymakers and the larger rail freight operators are confident that the Digital Automatic Coupler programme can move from vision to reality by 2028. Nevertheless, significant financial and logistical barriers remain. Toma Bačić reports.

All digital automatic coupler news