photo: RAILTARGET/Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC) by Dellner
Europe’s rail freight industry is on the brink of transformation. With Digital Automatic Couplers (DAC), railways could finally outpace road transport, boosting efficiency, capacity, and sustainability. But is Europe ready to embrace this change?
Digital Automatic Couplers (DAC) are an innovative technology poised to enhance the efficiency and capacity of rail freight transport.
DAC connects railcars using electrical and data systems, promising a greener, more reliable railway system and boosting capacity, economic growth, and climate action. By making rail freight more competitive, DAC could shift significant cargo volumes away from road transport.
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DAC's Tackling Decline in Rail Freight
The introduction of DAC is one of the most pressing topics in European rail freight. Despite technological advancements, Europe still relies on screw couplers—a system largely abandoned elsewhere. In contrast, the U.S. has used automatic couplers for over a century, according to Rail Sweden. While Europe has made previous attempts to modernize couplers, none have succeeded until now.
The first freight trains equipped with DAC are expected to roll out as "pioneer trains" in 2026, marking the start of real-world operations. However, financing remains a significant hurdle, with experts highlighting funding as one of the key barriers to implementation.
Speaking at InnoTrans 2024, Mark Topal Gökceli of ÖBB described DAC as a key factor in increasing rail capacity, essential for shifting more freight to rail. Railmarket adds that DAC accelerates infrastructure modernization and boosts the capacity of loading facilities. By enabling continuous electrical and data connections, DAC particularly benefits single-car freight—an eco-friendly alternative to road transport.
Paving the Way for Interoperability via DAC
According to Europe’s Rail’s European DAC Delivery Programme, DAC is an interoperability enabler, unlocking capacity and supporting the adoption of innovative technologies. These advancements aim to promote freight modal shift, contribute to climate goals, and drive economic growth.
DAC’s ability to increase rail network capacity would shorten delivery times, positioning rail as the default mode for freight transport. Dellner, a DAC manufacturer, claims the system enhances efficiency by reducing downtime and simplifying coupling operations, leading to faster turnarounds.
Boosting Productivity and Cutting Costs
Europe’s Rail points out that DAC enables the digital transformation of rail, paving the way for fully automated, efficient, and competitive freight transport. Manual tasks like coupling, brake connections, and train inspections, which currently require staff to walk the train’s entire length, would become obsolete.
Rail Sweden notes that these manual processes are time-consuming, raising costs and lowering efficiency. DAC could eliminate physical intervention, speeding up operations and cutting costs.
Paired with electronic train control systems, DAC supports the introduction of moving blocks—a signaling system that dynamically calculates safe zones around trains in real time. This technology uses continuous communication between central control systems and onboard devices, allowing trains to run closer together without compromising safety. Rail Sweden explains that moving blocks would increase track capacity, enabling more trains to use existing infrastructure without the need for costly expansions.
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A Promising Start Amid Skepticism
While DAC testing in real-world operations has only just begun, the potential benefits are promising. Yet, industry experts remain cautious, pointing to unresolved questions about funding, economic viability, and functionality.
Source: Rail Sweden, RAILTARGET; Europe's Rail; Railmarket; Dellner