Digital automatic coupler news
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In depthTechnology: Innovation must come faster
Wheel-rail interaction and the need to accelerate the pace of innovation were hot topics at the 48th Conference on Modern Rolling Stock held in Graz on September 17-19. Reinhard Christeller reports.
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In depthComment: Green credentials on the line
The European Commission’s Greening Freight proposals reiterate the EU’s commitment to growing rail’s share of the logistics chain, but they also set out the challenge the sector will face amid the complexity and cost of building new infrastructure, and as measures are adopted to aid the decarbonisation of competing modes.
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In depthTrain Control: Say goodbye to lineside hardware with satellites and digital comms
A marriage of satellite communications with fully digital train control could eliminate lineside signals and related equipment, achieving huge savings and making the rail mode more affordable. Preliminary trials are already in progress.
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NewsPop-up workshops to retrofit digital automatic couplers
EUROPE: With around 500 000 European wagons needing to be equipped with digital automatic couplers by 2030, Deutsche Bahn is to deploy ‘pop-up’ mobile workshop tents where the work can be undertaken quickly and near where wagons are used, for example at industrial customers’ sites. From ...
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In depthViewpoint: We cannot afford another failure
The European rail sector risks sleepwalking into an existential crisis if it cannot accelerate the funding and deployment of the Digital Automatic Coupler, argues Dr Jürgen Wilder of Knorr-Bremse.
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NewsCompetitive Freight Wagon aims to boost rail freight
INNOTRANS: On show in Berlin is a prototype four-wheeled intermodal wagon intended to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of rail freight. Developed by the German aerospace research centre DLR with the support from national railway industry association VDB and various industrial partners, the Competitive Freight Wagon ...
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In depthViewpoint: DAC needs a migration strategy
Roll-out plans for Europe’s digital automatic coupler must take account of the business case and operating requirements in different countries, suggests Armand Toubol.
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NewsDAC programme selects Scharfenberg digital coupler
EUROPE: Following extensive testing with various prototypes, a Scharfenberg latch design has been selected as the basis for the future European Digital Automatic Coupler. Meeting on September 21, the supervisory board of the European DAC Delivery Programme adopted a recommendation from the ...
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In depthFreight: Delivering Europe’s digital coupler
Testing of four prototype digital automatic coupler designs is underway as a deployment programme takes shape aimed at boosting the productivity and competitiveness of rail freight operations across Europe by 2030. However, much remains to be done.
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NewsVoith Turbo discusses digital automatic couplers on the latest InnoTrans podcast
INNOTRANS: The latest episode of the InnoTrans podcast was released on May 11, with Cornelius Weitzmann, CEO Mobility at Voith Turbo, discussing the importance of digital automatic couplers in ensuring the competitveness of rail transport. ‘Rail is the most efficient and sustainable way to realise medium ...
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NewsAutocouplers to equip Swiss intermodal fleet
SWITZERLAND: Delivery of a second batch of Voith CargoFlex automatic couplers for SBB Cargo’s fleet of domestic intermodal wagons has begun. Once the order is complete, all SBB Cargo’s intermodal wagons will have been fitted with autocouplers, allowing expansion of services using autocoupler-fitted trains from June 2021 ...
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NewsEuropean digital automatic coupler deployment planned by 2030
EUROPE: A memorandum of understanding committing to the EU-wide deployment of a digital automatic coupler by 2030 was signed by representatives of the European rail freight sector on September 18. The signatories said Europe was ‘trailing the world’ as ‘the last continent to use standard manual couplers’. ...
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NewsDigital coupler ‘opens door to automation’
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn has launched a programme to test digital automatic couplings in live freight traffic. Speaking during a demonstration of prototype couplers at the DB Systemtechnik Minden research facility on August 31, Sabina Jeschke, DB’s Board Member for Digitalisation & Technology, said that the technology ‘opens ...
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NewsDigital automatic couplers on test
Source: DB/Volker Emersleben EUROPE: Trials with prototype digital automatic couplers from four manufacturers are to start this month, with a view to selecting a single type of coupler that could be introduced across Europe. Testing will continue through to December 2022. The pilot project aims to obtain ...