Digital Automatic Coupling Enters New Phase with EU-Backed PioDAC Project

Europe’s work on Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) has entered a new phase. With the official launch of the PioDAC project in Copenhagen, the sector is now preparing for commercial tests of the technology across several European freight corridors.

According to the VPI press release, ten partners from seven European countries, including railway undertakings, wagon keepers, workshops, manufacturers and shippers, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 20 November 2025. Together, they will test the technical performance, operational stability and interoperability of DAC under real conditions across borders, marshalling yards, mainlines and customer sidings.

VPI’s service company, VPI European Rail Service GmbH (VERS), is a formal project partner and will oversee processes linked to DAC installation and maintenance. The company will accompany the installation of DAC components in freight wagons, supervise maintenance monitoring, and help establish procedures that can be used later in standard ECM-compliant operations.

VERS is also involved in the ongoing DACFIT project, giving PioDAC access to established methods and reducing duplicated effort across Europe. Insights gained through PioDAC will directly inform the next update of the VPI European Maintenance Guide (VPI-EMG), offering workshops consistent guidance for completing DAC work in line with European safety and maintenance standards. VERS Managing Director Heiko Radke set the priorities clearly: "For VERS, the priorities in this project are clear: a reliable technical installation and a solid foundation for future maintenance."

Commercial DAC Tests to Begin in 2027

As reported by RailFreight, the deployment of Digital Automatic Coupling will progress significantly in 2027, when the first large-scale commercial testing begins with trains running in real operating environments. These trains will operate internationally and under varying conditions, covering different wagon types, cargoes and environmental situations.

The project runs for 36 months and is co-funded by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) of the European Union. The gathered operational data will provide a comprehensive assessment of DAC’s robustness, reliability and economic value, essential information for decision-makers preparing for Europe-wide rollout.

DAC is considered a central component of efforts to build a more efficient, interoperable and competitive European freight system. By automating coupling, digitising information flow and simplifying processes such as brake testing, DAC is expected to reduce manual workload, accelerate operations and improve safety across the network.

With PioDAC now underway, the European sector is moving closer to answering a key question: whether DAC can deliver the performance required for uniform implementation across a diverse and highly interconnected freight system.