DAC4EU demonstrator train in Styria

DAC is considered a milestone in process optimisation and digitalisation, and is expected to make a significant contribution to the transformation of rail freight transport. Since the beginning of February, prototypes that use Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) have been undergoing their first comprehensive tests in Austria. As part of this process, they are being put through various tests at several train stations and industrial sidings in the country. After that, the DAC4EU demonstrator train will carry on to Switzerland. 

Next stop: Selzthal & Eisenerz

Having already undergone some tests in Vorarlberg, the DAC4EU demonstrator train continued its journey to Styria. At Selzthal and Eisenerz, the train was put through displacement tests at platforms – i.e. coupling and decoupling tests – as well as initial shunting tests. This is where the uncoupled wagon group gets a push from the locomotive and then rolls on independently.

This was followed by dry runs – for example to Bad Ischl in Upper Austria – during which data was collected using different types of measuring equipment mounted on the freight wagons. Among other things, GPS trackers, pressure sensors, force sensors, acceleration sensors and speed sensors were attached to the coupling and collected a huge amount of information during these test drives. The knowledge and insights gained then feed into the developments necessary for the DAC to be put into service much further down the line.

Find out next time about what happened after the stops in Styria and a quick detour to Bad Ischl in Upper Austria.

Stay tuned!

The DAC4EU consortium, consisting of the consortium leader DB AG, the freight railways ÖBB Rail Cargo Group, DB Cargo and SBB Cargo as well as the wagon operators Ermewa, GATX Rail Europe and VTG, is committed to preparing the selection of a coupling design for a Europe-wide roll-out. The consortium began its work in June 2020. The BMDV is financing the DAC4EU project with around 13 million euros over the project period of two and a half years.

The Federal Ministry Republic of Austria for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) is supporting the TARO Project, which also addresses matters related to the DAC with a total of 3.5 million euros from the FTI Program Mobility of the Future (Mobilität der Zukunft), managed by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) . 

Learn more about DAC here.