Digital automatic coupler news
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In depthInnovation: Testing and revenue service trials mark Digital Automatic Coupling progress
Digital Automatic Couplings are expected to transform the prospects for European rail freight, with fundamental changes to both technology and operations, but introduction can only be achieved step by step. Testing and revenue service trials are now underway, preparing the path to a widespread roll-out.
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NewsTÜV Süd puts digital automatic couplers to the test
GERMANY: TÜV Süd’s Görlitz rolling stock test centre is carrying out extensive stress tests on digital automatic couplers from several manufacturers to support the authorisation process.
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NewsFunkwerk reports progress in meeting FRMCS standards
EUROPE: Telecoms component specialist Funkwerk Systems has announced several important milestones towards standard-compliant implementation of the Future Railway Mobile Communication System.
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NewsVoith couplers ordered for DAC pilot project
GERMANY: The DAC4EU digital automatic coupler pilot project has commissioned Voith to supply further couplers for trials using 13 wagons and one locomotive.
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In depthComment: Rail freight’s push for visibility
There are welcome signs that the rail freight sector is starting to seize the opportunity to become a key element in the global logistics sector, argues our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley.
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NewsRail freight innovations on show as Transport Logistic 2025 ‘makes an invisible industry visible’
GERMANY: ‘Nothing works without logistics’, and the Transport Logistic event ‘makes visible what often remains invisible in everyday life’, said Stefan Rummel, CEO of trade fair organiser Messe München, as the biennial event closed on June 5.
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NewsTrade associations urge Brussels to back Europe’s Rail successor
EUROPE: A phalanx of trade associations from across the rail and logistics sectors has issued a position paper calling for the EU to push ahead with a successor to the Europe’s Rail research body. The nine bodies are calling on the European institutions to ensure a ...
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NewsUNIFE calls for research funding to ’keep the European rail supply industry number one’
EUROPE: Supply industry association UNIFE has called for the EU budget to include a dedicated €3bn rail research programme as the successor to the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking, saying this would help to ’keep the European rail supply industry number one in the world, amid the ...
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NewsRail freight coalition calls for EU action
UK: Five CEOs of members of the RailFreightForward coalition of rail freight operators recently met EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas to discuss challenges including a lack of high-quality cross-border infrastructure capacity, an uneven economic level playing field and investments in digital technology. RailFreightForward asked the Commissioner ...
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NewsHeavy steel train tests digital automatic couplers in real-world conditions
SWEDEN: The country’s heaviest freight trains outside the iron ore sector are being used to test digital automatic couplers in real-world conditions. DAC equipment from Dellner and Voith has been fitted to wagons used on daily 3 800 tonne trains which Green Cargo uses to transport ...
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In depthInterview: SBB’s Ducrot prioritises co-operation over competition
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.
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In depthComment: Rail must respond to Draghi’s challenge
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.
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NewsDAC programme agrees electrical coupler standard
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. The E-Coupler component of the DAC carries an inter-vehicle energy supply as well as the data ...
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In depthRail Logistics: Freight trains are getting smarter
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.
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NewsRail freight associations raise ‘serious concerns’ about digital automatic couplers
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
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In depthFreight: ‘Nobody is writing us a cheque for €13bn’
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.
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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 ...