Debate on DAC at InnoTrans: From 'a Piece of Iron' to Smart Wagons. Modernization in Full Swing

At the InnoTrans trade fair in Berlin, RAILTARGET organized a debate on Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) and its future in rail transport. Experts warned that for the project's success, legislation and sufficient funding from European sources are crucial. It would be advantageous for carriers to know the conditions as soon as possible.

A discussion on the implementation of DAC into operations took place at the Berlin exhibition center during InnoTrans. Pavel Holomek, Chairman of the Board of Cargo Wagon, and Libor Lochman, Ambassador of the DAC project for Europe for Rail, discussed the topic. The debate was moderated by Jan Sechter, Chairman of the Transport Section of the Czech Chamber of Commerce.

Digital Automatic Coupling is one of the digitalization projects aimed at advancing the autonomy of railways. Libor Lochman noted that the first phase of DAC development will conclude by the end of 2026. This phase involves the development and testing of the technology, which will initially be trialed on four trains. However, even after this period, the technology will not be in its final phase.

By 2026, several pioneer (test) trains are expected to enter service, with a maximum of 1,000 units planned. The first standards for these trains will already be established.

"The mosaic of projects in the coming years should ensure the functionality of DAC. However, it’s only one of the technologies that will modernize the railway shortly," says Lochman. DAC is expected to transform a 'piece of iron'—the traditional wagon—into an IT technology that requires communication.

For Pavel Holomek, the most pressing issue is establishing legislation that allows carriers to adapt quickly to future modernization. He noted that his company, Cargo Wagon, is currently modernizing its fleet and would ideally like to acquire DAC-compliant equipment right now. However, without clear system standards, they risk incurring additional costs if the wagons they purchase do not meet future DAC requirements. Lochman countered that the technology has not yet been fully tested to set precise conditions for carriers.

"Everyone is aware that legislation is important. The next major milestone in 2026 should bring standards for the first 1,000 pioneer trains, but it's clear that a year and a half is not enough time to create comprehensive final legislation for carriers," stated Lochman.

The biggest question remains the funding of DAC. Since it’s a project that will need to be implemented universally without exceptions, both speakers agreed that funding should come from European funds. Only in this way can equal conditions be ensured for all countries. If individual member states were responsible for financing, the starting positions of different carriers would not be the same, and some would be at a disadvantage. Lochman believes that funds need to be concentrated first and then distributed sensibly.

"DAC has to be a European project, not a national one. We must not create imbalances where it's a matter of who can access the funding and who cannot," said Holomek.

Lochman pointed out that the condition of train fleets also needs to be considered. In the Balkans, for example, many trains are 30 to 40 years old, meaning the fleet needs to be modernized first before investing in DAC. Implementing the technology in such old trains would be uneconomical due to their limited lifespan. In addition to fleet modernization, there are other technologies that carriers need to implement, with DAC being just one of them.

"Since this is not a short-term project, it's clear that it will have various phases. We can't just look a year or two ahead; DAC needs to be considered in the long term," Holomek concluded.