LIVE COVERAGE: Webinar on DAC—From Talking to Doing, Where Does Europe Stand?

Europe’s rail freight sector is entering a decisive phase as Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) shifts from concept to implementation. The 'Moving towards real DAC operations' webinar is bringing together industry leaders to assess progress, challenges, and what comes next for large-scale deployment.

10:00 The webinar opens with introductory remarks from Jens Engelmann (railiable, EDDP Programme Manager & DACcord Coordinator) and Tibo Noël (NUON Consulting, EDDP PMO), setting the tone for a discussion that moves beyond theory towards real operational deployment of DAC across Europe. The agenda focuses on three core pillars: a high-level industry and policy debate, insights from the European DAC Delivery Programme (EDDP) and DACcord project, and a forward-looking discussion on pre-deployment and implementation pathways.

10:05 Ulrich Meuser, Senior Expert on DAC, opens the technical discussion with a retrospective on how the concept has evolved since 2017, outlining the fundamental principles that still define DAC today.

He points out that automatic coupling is not just a technical upgrade but a prerequisite for full rail freight automation, requiring coordinated implementation at the European level. The transition, he notes, depends heavily on public funding, common standards, and a clear cost-benefit framework, alongside a structured migration strategy across networks.

Meuser talks about the shift from traditional Automatic Coupling (AC) concepts to Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) in 2019, whci was a turning point in rail freight modernisation. Current operations still rely on manual, time-consuming processes such as wagon coupling, brake testing, and train preparation. DAC introduces automation across key operational steps, including brake testing, wagon sequence registration, and train integrity checks, while enabling real-time data exchange through telematics and sensors.

He also mentions the formation of the Technical Innovation Circle (TIS) in 2018, bringing together major industry players such as operators, manufacturers, and research institutions to align on DAC development. By 2020, this collaboration evolved into a structured European DAC framework, with the creation of governance bodies under the European DAC Delivery Programme (EDDP).

10:10 The discussion moves to a high-level panel, bringing together representatives from across the rail ecosystem to answer a central question: why is Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) critical for Europe today? Across interventions, there's a clear consensus: DAC is a system-wide enabler for efficiency, safety, and competitiveness in European rail freight.

Alberto Mazzola, Executive Director of CER, talks about DAC as a key tool to increase train weight, accelerate connections, and reduce operational costs. He stresses that Europe must now move from discussion to execution, ensuring that all components are fully aligned and functional. He also says that DAC will significantly improve safety, while also responding to the broader challenges facing the sector. In a context of ongoing pressure on rail freight, he points out that Europe is in a critical moment and must accelerate progress on DAC deployment.

Stephan Ray, Head of Communications & Public Affairs at Green Cargo, presents DAC as a multi-dimensional productivity system. He explains that automation will reduce manual work and improve utilisation of wagons and locomotives, delivering immediate operational gains. Beyond productivity, he points out a major but often overlooked benefit: cost avoidance through reduced wear and tear. Smoother train dynamics lower stress on wheels, couplers and bogies, leading to longer asset lifetimes and significantly reduced lifecycle costs.

DAC also enables a technological leap, including synchronised braking systems (ECP brakes), shorter braking distances, and better use of already constrained rail capacity. Combined with real-time data from every wagon, this transforms trains into fully digital systems, enabling predictive maintenance and more reliable operations.

10:15 Matthias Knüpling, DAC Coordinator at UIP, focuses on the digitalisation dimension of DAC, describing it as essential for eliminating the “black box” nature of rail freight. With DAC, operators gain real-time visibility and predictability across the entire transport chain, which is critical for integration into modern logistics systems. He emphasises that data transparency builds trust, enabling rail to better compete in multimodal supply chains and deliver more efficient services.

Carole Coune, Secretary General of AERRL, talks about DAC as a strategic necessity for Europe’s rolling stock sector. She mentions its role in improving safety for both workers and passengers, while also boosting operational performance through standardised, interoperable technologies. However, she warns that deployment must be carefully timed and coordinated, particularly to align DAC with other digital technologies. Early and well-planned action is essential to control costs and avoid fragmentation, ensuring Europe maintains its position as a leader in safe and efficient rail transport.

Enno Wiebe, Director General of UNIFE, describes DAC as a core enabler of rail digitalisation. He links DAC directly to broader innovations such as ERTMS evolution, moving block systems, and capacity increases, positioning it as a foundation for the future railway system. At the same time, he points out its role in enhancing safety and enabling technologies like electro-pneumatic braking.

Jedde Hollewijn, Senior Policy Officer for Railways at the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), brings the worker perspective into focus, emphasising safety as the most immediate benefit. Manual coupling remains one of the most dangerous tasks in rail operations, and removing the need for workers to go between wagons could significantly reduce accidents. In addition, the physically demanding nature of coupling work, often performed in harsh conditions, makes DAC essential for long-term workforce sustainability.

He also stresses that DAC can strengthen the sector overall, creating more stable employment and better job prospects, but underlines that workers must be fully involved in both development and deployment phases.

10:20 The discussion shifts to a critical issue: why the rail sector cannot deploy DAC without public support. Speakers agree that while DAC delivers clear long-term benefits, current market conditions and high upfront costs make self-financing unrealistic.

Alberto Mazzola says that the rail freight sector is operating in a highly competitive and financially constrained environment, particularly under pressure from road transport. While DAC enables cost savings, energy efficiency, and CO₂ reduction, these benefits are not yet fully recognised or monetised by the market. He points to ongoing discussions at EU level, including ETS-related mechanisms and potential funding frameworks, noting that public support of up to 90% is now being considered by the European Commission.

Stephan Ray brings in the customer perspective and mentions DAC’s value for major industrial sectors such as automotive, manufacturing, and construction. Using real operational examples, he explains that DAC delivers greater reliability, fewer disruptions, and lower maintenance needs, even under extreme conditions. For customers, this translates into more predictable logistics flows and stronger production systems, which are essential for global competitiveness.

From a wagon keeper perspective, Matthias Knüpling talks about DAC’s role in optimising maintenance and repair processes. Digitalisation enables better planning of preventive maintenance, faster workshop turnaround times, and improved wagon availability, with the goal of keeping assets in operation as close as possible to 365 days per year.

Carole Coune says that DAC is essential to improving the economic performance of rail freight, making it more commercially viable. However, she points oit that investment is only feasible with public support, particularly to ensure that existing fleets can be modernised and that new market entrants are not disadvantaged. DAC, in this sense, is also a tool to enable innovation and new business models across the sector.

10:25 Enno Wiebe focuses on the industrial prerequisites for successful deployment, stressing that the supply industry requires clear, concrete demand from operators. He says that scaling production depends on large, coordinated orders, which would allow costs to decrease through economies of scale. For this, the sector must move beyond declarations and provide tangible commitments, such as calls for tender, alongside finalised technical specifications and a coordinated European approach.

Jedde Hollewijn concludes by saying that technology investment must go hand in hand with investment in people. DAC deployment will require comprehensive training across different roles and age groups, as well as adaptation to new workflows and responsibilities. He underlines the need for strong social dialogue, worker involvement, and guarantees on job protection, ensuring that the transition remains safe, inclusive, and sustainable.

10:30 The focus shifts to how DAC deployment is being organised at European level, with Mark Topal-Gökceli (ÖBB CTO & EDDP Programme Manager) talking about the role of the European DAC Delivery Programme (EDDP) and DACcord project. He opens saying that rail freight conditions are deteriorating further in 2026, driven by energy costs and broader global pressures. In this context, DAC is no longer optional — "there is no alternative but to work together and deliver solutions quickly." He stresses that DAC must move beyond research and become a real, deployable system.

He talks about six key conditions required before full deployment:

• A single European DAC system (no fragmented national variants)
• Proven technology (validated in real operations, not theory)
• Proven operational functionality (delivering measurable benefits)
• Adequate funding availability
• Simple and fast authorisation procedures
• A coordinated European migration plan

Mark says  that the sector is now moving out of the research phase, with major progress driven by projects like TRANS4M-R. The immediate priority is the Pioneer DAC Trains (PioDAC), which must prove performance, reliability, and business value in real conditions. According to Topal-Gökceli, "99.9% of current efforts are focused on making these trains a success."

A key message is the need to bridge the gap between innovation and real operations. DAC is not just another R&D initiative. Mark says it is a system transformation project, requiring alignment across technology, funding, regulation, and industry commitment. The EDDP acts as the umbrella structure coordinating all stakeholders and ensuring a unified European approach.

10:45  Jens Engelmann outlines the DACcord project as a coordination and support layer within the EDDP, focused on turning strategy into practical deployment structures. Funded with €1.5 million over three years (since March 2023) under Europe’s Rail, DACcord builds on earlier initiatives and brings together a broad European consortium of industry, research, and consultancy partners.

Engelmann explains that DACcord is not about technology itself, but about making deployment possible. The project focuses on:

• Programme and risk management at EDDP level
• Development of the DAC migration roadmap
• Work on funding and financing mechanisms
• Stakeholder coordination across Europe

The project is built around three core objectives:

• Enable a coordinated European DAC rollout under a common governance structure
• Develop a realistic migration and implementation plan, including identifying gaps
• Build strong stakeholder alignment across the sector

Engelmann notes that while progress has been made, the final migration plan is still under development, with current work focused on closing remaining gaps and defining mitigation strategies. He also says that DACcord's role has been to prepare the ground for deployment, not to complete it. The programme has successfully aligned stakeholders and structured the transition, but the next phase will require turning these frameworks into concrete implementation decisions across Europe.

10:50 Tibo Noël focuses on the practical execution layer of the EDDP, stressing that the programme is designed to move DAC from discussion to implementation. The priority is to align all activities into a single integrated master plan, supported by multi-annual planning, cost analysis, and deployment scenarios. He points out that a key shift is already underway, from R&D to real testing and validation in the field.

A major milestone comes with the development of large-scale pre-deployment initiatives, particularly the Pioneer DAC Trains, which now involve over 50 stakeholders across Europe. Noël describes 2025 as a turning point, where the sector moved from concept papers to real project commitments, creating strong momentum for deployment. He also points to a flagship pre-deployment project with around €50 million in total investment, aimed at enabling DAC in real operational conditions. It is a critical step towards commercialisation, demonstrating that DAC is no longer experimental but entering the operational phase.

10:55 Jens Engelmann pushes back against the idea that DAC rollout is simply about installing components and scaling deployment. Instead, he says that full implementation depends on several critical preconditions that must be aligned before any large-scale rollout can happen.  According to Engelmann, DAC migration hinges on four key factors:

• Fleet retrofittability – whether existing wagons can realistically be upgraded
• Traffic separability – how DAC and non-DAC operations can coexist
• Technology readiness – ensuring systems are mature and interoperable
• Economics – staying within a viable cost-benefit framework

Without these, deployment risks becoming technically possible but economically or operationally unfeasible. Real-world data from Pioneer DAC Trains will play a decisive role in shaping the final strategy, moving the process from assumptions to evidence-based decisions.

Several important milestones have already been reached:

• The definition of a “DAC basic package”, focusing on essential functions like coupling, data, braking, and train integrity
• A strategic decision to prioritise functionality over complexity, avoiding over-engineering in early phases
• The selection of DAC5 as the standard, while DAC4 has been dropped
• A shift towards rapid installation of electrical and data components, reducing mechanical complexity

11:00 Hugo Tabouret shifts the focus from technology to stakeholder alignment, making it clear that DAC deployment is as much about governance and coordination as it is about engineering. He identifies three core stakeholder groups that must be aligned for successful deployment:

• Regulators (technology & standards) – ensuring interoperability and technical frameworks
• Regulators (finance & funding) – enabling large-scale investment decisions
• Industry players (operators, suppliers, customers) – responsible for real-world implementation

A key milestone was the DAC Sector Statement (2023), which established a shared vision across the rail industry. The document defined clear objectives for deployment, creating a foundation for coordinated action across Europe.

Tabouret then talks about a three-level engagement strategy:

1. Real-life experience – Demonstrating DAC through pilot trains and test environments (e.g. FP5 Train Lab) to prove viability
2. Local engagement – Organising DAC fora and workshops across countries to build national-level support
3. Continuous communication – Keeping stakeholders informed through updates, case studies, and transparent dialogue

He says  that Pioneer DAC Trains are the strongest tool for stakeholder buy-in, acting as real-world proof that the system works. These projects move the conversation beyond theory, helping stakeholders build confidence and justify investment decisions.

11:10 Molley Williams shifts the discussion toward what is actually being delivered under EU-Rail projects, saying that DAC development begins long before physical coupling systems are deployed. He says that DAC is about building a complete operational system.

This starts with:

• Architecture and technical specifications
• Operational requirements and procedures
• System-wide integration across rail operations

Only once these foundations are in place can the sector move to development and harmonisation across Europe.  A major achievement has been the alignment of multiple suppliers and technologies, with several hybrid DAC solutions now under development. Williams says that the industry is no longer working in isolation, and instead, it is moving towards interoperable solutions tested under shared frameworks. What began as concept work and planning has now evolved into real testing environments:

• The creation of a Train Test Lab, offering a “playground” for suppliers and OEMs
• Transition from early concepts (e.g. initial test planning phases) to physical testing infrastructure
• Enabling hands-on validation of DAC systems in controlled conditions

DAC is now being tested in multiple real-world environments, including:

• Austria – installation and testing of hybrid couplers
• Italy and Switzerland – expanding demonstration activities
• Earlier testing phases focused on initial coupling concepts and system validation

11:20 Ajith Sureshkumar brings the discussion to the operational reality of DAC deployment, focusing on how EU-Rail projects like FP5-DACTivate and DACFIT are preparing the system for mass rollout across Europe. The work is structured around three key priorities:

• Testing safety and reliability – including high-force stress tests, derailment scenarios, and climate chamber testing to validate performance under extreme conditions
• Ensuring interoperability – making sure components from different suppliers work seamlessly together within one unified system
• Preparing large-scale deployment – addressing how DAC can realistically be rolled out across thousands of existing wagons

Sureshkumar says that DAC is already undergoing rigorous testing programmes, including:

• Initial field test campaigns
• Climate chamber testing (e.g. snow, extreme temperatures)
• Validation of performance, durability, and system behaviour

These tests are essential to ensure DAC can operate reliably across Europe’s diverse environments. A central issue is scale. Europe already has thousands of freight wagons, all of which must be retrofitted. To address this, the projects focus on three critical questions:

1. What exists today? – analysing the current fleet and its compatibility
2. Can it be delivered? – assessing workshop capacity and timelines
3. How will it be implemented? – planning logistics, allocation, and sequencing

Significant progress has already been made:

• Identification of over 1,400 potential workshops across Europe
• Optimisation of installation processes, reducing retrofit time
• Development of a clearer picture of deployment capacity and feasibility

Sureshkumar says that DAC deployment is pan-European by design, with partners from both Western and Central & Eastern Europe contributing to the projects. Initiatives like DACTivate (21 partners) and DACFIT (7 partners) ensure that solutions are compatible across different national systems and operational contexts.

11:30  Jan Bergstrand talks about a decisive shift in the DAC journey: from testing environments to real commercial freight operations. The Pioneer DAC project is about running trains in live business conditions, where performance, reliability, and customer expectations truly matter. This introduces new constraints:

• Regulatory approvals and safety authorisation
• Operational reliability under customer contracts
• Zero tolerance for disruption in commercial freight flows

The project will deploy seven Pioneer DAC trains across nine European countries, carefully selected to reflect different market segments and operational conditions. Each route is designed to test specific challenges, from cross-border complexity to heavy freight and intermodal transport. The Pioneer operations cover a wide range of real-world scenarios:

• Luxembourg–Germany (WP5): bulk freight (metal scrap), high risk of damage
• Germany–Poland (WP6): complex cross-border operations with long, heavy trains
• Norway (WP7): extreme gradients, tunnels, and temperature differences of up to 40°C
• Slovenia (WP8): steep infrastructure and port-based container traffic
• Sweden (WP9): heavy-haul steel transport under harsh winter conditions

A core objective is to validate the five key DAC functions in real operations:

• Coupling with energy and data transmission
• Automated brake testing
• Train integrity monitoring
• Train composition management
• Automated uncoupling

The project has already entered the procurement and coordination phase, including:

• Engagement with suppliers and manufacturers
• Definition of technical requirements and tender specifications
• Coordination with national safety authorities (NSAs) and EU regulators
• Establishment of specialised working groups across five technical areas

This ensures that deployment is not fragmented, but aligned across Europe’s regulatory and industrial landscape.

11:40 Jan Schöningfrom the German Federal Ministry of Transport shifts the discussion from operations to one of the most critical enablers of DAC deployment, which is funding. Germany is actively supporting the DAC-Pioneer Trains under the EU’s CEF programme, with three key national players involved:

• DB Cargo AG – salt transport operations
• DB AG – overall technical coordination
• VPI-VERS – monitoring and maintenance

To strengthen this effort, the German government is adding €5.7 million in co-financing (from 2026). This increases the total funding rate to up to 80%, combining: 50% EU funding (CEF/CINEA) and 30% national co-financing.  Germany is also launching a dedicated funding scheme called PioDAK, aka National Programme for DAC Pioneer Trains. Key features:

• Budget 2026: €13 million
• Planned funding (2027–2029): €20 million annually
• Funding rate: up to 80%
• Structure: individual funding calls

The programme is designed to complement EU initiatives, not duplicate them. Its goal is to:

• Address remaining technical and operational gaps
• Support first-of-a-kind installations (first-of-class retrofitting)
• Enable testing in real operational environments
• Cover areas like maintenance, safety, communication systems

11:45 Javier Ibanez talks about the strong coordination role of Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking, noting that DAC activities were launched even before the formal initiative, with members already working closely across multiple workstreams. He says that the programme has successfully aligned technical, operational, and coordination activities, ensuring that all elements of DAC development are connected and progressing in parallel. With key deliverables now completed and formally approved, the project is entering a reporting phase at the end of March, confirming that DAC is moving forward in a structured and results-driven way, supported by continuous collaboration across stakeholders.

Karel van Gils talks about deployment, saying that success will ultimately depend on how efficiently DAC is rolled out across the sector. He explains that a dedicated group has been established to analyse deployment challenges and provide recommendations, with increasing attention on system engineering, capacity, and real-world implementation. Drawing parallels with other major rail programmes like ERTMS and future communication systems, he points out that coordination between projects, infrastructure, and industry actors is essential, particularly as multiple technologies must come together at vehicle and system level. The goal is clear: ensure a fast, coherent, and scalable deployment of DAC across Europe.

12:00 Kristian Schmidt closes with a clear and pragmatic message: DAC must now move from discussion to deployment, identifying it as the sector’s top priority. He saya that neither a purely top-down regulatory approach nor a purely market-driven model will work, given the long-term return on investment and tight margins in rail freight. Instead, Schmidt points to a hybrid, Europe-wide solution, combining public support with a more innovative model such as centralised procurement and leasing of DAC-equipped wagons, which could make deployment financially viable for operators. He also mentions the need for industrial readiness, price transparency, and simplified authorisation processes, assuring that EU institutions will act as coordinators and facilitators. DAC will only succeed if Europe aligns funding, industry, and policy into one coordinated rollout strategy, and does so quickly.

Giorgio Travaini concludes by framing DAC as only the first step in a much broader transformation of European rail freight, describing it as part of a wider "system of systems" that must integrate digital, operational, and logistics elements across the sector. He says that what matters now is alignment across all stakeholders, noting that for the first time, industry, institutions, and partners are moving forward with a shared mission. Travaini mentions the need to build on DAC by connecting it with wider logistics chains, including ports and multimodal systems, and to capitalise on ongoing European initiatives and strategies. His message is: DAC is not the end goal, but the foundation for revitalising rail freight and strengthening its role within Europe’s transport system, with continued commitment from Europe’s Rail and the wider sector.