RCG Places Europe’s First Commercial DAC Order with Knorr-Bremse

Rail Cargo Group (RCG) has awarded Knorr-Bremse what the company describes as Europe’s first commercial order for digital automatic couplers (DAC). The technology is expected to enter commercial freight operation from 2028 as part of the EU-backed PioDAC pioneer train programme.

According to RailFreight, Knorr-Bremse announced the contract on 17 September 2026. Under the agreement, the company will equip RCG wagons with DAC systems, electronic control units and sensors for digital monitoring of vehicle functions and condition. The train will consist of 23 freight wagons and one locomotive. Neither company disclosed the value of the contract.

Compared with the overall size of RCG’s fleet, the order is relatively small. Its significance lies mainly in the next stage of DAC testing: Knorr-Bremse describes it as the first commercial European order for the technology, with the train due to operate under real railway conditions within the EU co-funded PioDAC programme under Europe’s Rail.

PioDAC Takes DAC into Commercial Operation

The PioDAC pioneer train programme was launched in November 2025 and will run for 36 months. Its aim is to test DAC technology under commercial operating conditions before any broader European deployment. The RCG train will be one of seven pioneer trains used to assess the reliability, operational performance and economic viability of DAC across different types of freight traffic and operating environments.

The contract follows several years of DAC testing involving both Knorr-Bremse and RCG. "With the first deployment of Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) in real operations, Knorr-Bremse and ÖBB Rail Cargo Group are taking an important step towards the digital freight train," said Dr Nicolas Lange, Member of the Executive Board of Knorr-Bremse responsible for Rail Vehicle Systems.

He added that the two companies are "among the pioneers in testing this key innovation. In doing so, we are strengthening the competitiveness of rail freight and paving the way for shifting more traffic onto rail."

DAC Could Replace Europe’s Traditional Screw Couplers

DAC is intended to replace the traditional screw coupling still used on most European freight wagons. One of its main advantages is the potential to remove much of the manual work involved in coupling and uncoupling wagons.

The system also provides continuous power and data connections throughout the train. This could automate or speed up train formation, brake testing and train dispatch, while reducing the amount of manual work required in marshalling yards. The digital infrastructure can also record the order of wagons within a train and, in the future, support additional functions such as train integrity monitoring.

Under the European pioneer train programme, around 250 freight wagons, equiring approximately 500 DAC units, and 15 locomotives are expected to be equipped across the seven pilot trains.

Knorr-Bremse Sees a Much Larger DAC Market Ahead

For Knorr-Bremse, the RCG contract could also open the door to a much larger market if DAC moves beyond the pilot phase.

The company has identified the automation and digitalisation of freight trains as an important growth area and estimates the potential European market for original equipment at hundreds of millions of euros in annual revenue. A wider rollout, however, will depend on the results of the pioneer programme. Common technical standards and suitable authorisation procedures will also be required.

Crucially, the sector will need a workable financing and migration model for converting Europe’s large and fragmented freight wagon fleet. Without one, moving from small pilot fleets to widespread DAC deployment will be challenging.