Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMDV) has presented the results of a DAC study it commissioned to introducing the new technology on the market.
The study is intended to provide an important impetus for the Europe-wide introduction of the Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC). It examines possible national measures to promote the solution, in particular to prepare for the conversion of the existing locomotive and wagon fleet to the DAC (so-called DAC migration).
“The DAC is the central innovation project for rail freight transport. The new coupling technology enables faster, automated shunting processes. Freight trains can be longer, heavier and faster. Digitisation and automation thus ensure more capacity in the rail network. But one thing is also clear: no one will be able to handle the migration alone. This is where the study comes in and shows important perspectives on how we can move forward together on the path to the DAC,” the State Secretary, Susanne Henckel, said.
The DAC study, developed by SCI, HWH and Connected Value, recommends, among other things, the promotion of pilot testing in the period 2026 to 2028 and the support of further preparatory measures such as risk, deployment and transformation management.
On the basis of the study, the BMDV will now examine which possible support measures can be implemented from 2026 onwards. It will also be crucial that, in addition to the member states, both the EU and the industry contribute to the costs of the DAC migration.
In order to initiate the introduction of the DAC the BMDV is funding the “DAC Demonstrator” project, in which DAC prototypes from various manufacturers are being tested by the international consortium DAC4EU.
The aim of this testing is to achieve Europe-wide standards for the DAC. The project was launched in June 2020 and will run until June 2026. The BMDV is making a total of over EUR 30 million available for this purpose.
The DAC technology increases transport capacity on rail as it reduces the time it takes to form trains and allows longer and heavier trains. It also enables further technical innovations in rail freight transport, such as the highest level of expansion of the ETCS.
The DAC allows operational processes to be simplified and accelerated. By eliminating manual coupling and uncoupling, the physical strain on employees is significantly reduced. This makes working conditions more attractive. Despite the shortage of skilled workers, increasing transport volumes can be handled.
In May 2024, Austria, Germany and Switzerland joined forces calling the EU to deliver more funding for DAC technology through the DAC programme.
If DAC is appropriately funded and deployed at European level, all freight wagons (400.000 – 450.000 units) will operate in couple automatically.
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