The Digital Automatic Coupler - enabling digital freight train operations

Anna Björkman, Rail Sweden's program manager, began the meeting by giving a short introduction to DAC.

- The Digital Automatic Coupler is a prerequisite for an increased railway capacity, she said. It enables heavier and longer freight trains, increased safety and process reliability. DAC also enables automatic coupling and decoupling which implies reduced costs and process time, she explained. By providing a continuous power and data line on the wagons, DAC is paving the way to intelligent freight trains.

TRANS4M-R - paves the way for the intelligent rail freight 

Jan Bergstrand, Senior Strategist at Trafikverket gave an overview of the FP5 TRANS4M-R project which is lead by Europe's rail and ongoing tests.

The aim with the FP5 TRANS4M-R project is to create rail freight as the backbone of Europe's lowest emission and most robust logistics network and DAC has a key role in this development. Jan explained further the plans to introduce the DAC in pre-deployment trains after the project to gather sufficient information and data to represent European freight traffic, long-term tests to prepare migration.

The trains will operate for approximately two years throughout Europe. The aim is to gain important experience to be fully prepared for the full-scale implementation, findings on technical challenges and regional specificities. This will be done by running trains in different operational scenarios and added value for customers and for potentially gaining cross-border experience.  

2024-2026 - an intense test phase for DAC

Anna Björkman then gave an overview of ongoing and concluded DAC tests on European level and lined up the next steps in the testing phases. 

- During 2024-2026 we will test interoperability and reliability of solutions regarding safety requirements and operational processes. We will also provide input for the decisions regarding certain technical aspects of DAC as well as solutions and validation of tests for certification.

Anna O Åkerman, Project Manager at Rail Sweden, gave an in-depth presentation about the two ongoing tests in Sweden.  

- During 2024-2026 we will run an intermodal train and the steel train between Borlänge and Luleå. We will evaluate long-term effects and the DACs ability to handle winter conditions. Luleå is in the very north part of Sweden and therefore it's extra interesting to test and understand how DAC handles very hard winter conditions and heavy applications, Anna told us.

Testpartner - networking, learning and development 

The webinar was wrapped up with a discussion together with Björn Landström, Change Manager at Green Cargo. Green Cargo will participate with four DAC equipped wagons in the steel train test. Björn talked about the necessary preparations that have been made before the start of the test. It has included the risk analysis that's been conducted, internal communication and education of involved staff along with benefits of being a part of the DAC test network.