Railway starts test with Digital Automatic Coupling

The Digital Automatic Coupler (DAK) is an essential component of the digitization of freight trains, announced the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV). It is thus a crucial lever to make rail more competitive compared to road transport. The DAK enables freight wagons to be coupled automatically, that is, without manual labor. The connections for the brakes are also made automatically. For the first time, freight wagons will be equipped with continuous power and data lines.

Longer, heavier, faster
 
With the DAK, faster, automated shunting processes are possible. Overall, the capacity of transshipment stations increases significantly. Freight trains can become longer and heavier with the new coupling technology. More importantly, they can travel at higher speeds than before, allowing them to better "flow" in rail traffic. This increases the capacity of the rail network. The DAK will significantly contribute to achieving European climate goals.

"Bringing the growing volume of transport in line with our climate protection goals is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Rail is the key to this - even though we have a lot of catching up to do, especially in freight transport," commented Volker Wissing, Federal Minister for Digital and Transport (FDP).

True to the traffic light coalition's motto "Dare to make more progress," the EU-wide introduction of a standardized automatic coupling system would solve a problem that has persisted for over 70 years and catapult over half a million freight wagons into the 21st century, Wissing continued. A transformation urgently needed in his view, which should not be delayed another day.

“This coupling is a revolution; it belongs to the future. The DAK makes freight cars smart and fast: when coupling, but also when driving,” believes Daniela Gerd tom Markotten, DB Board Member for Digitalization and Technology.

Through this technology, not only could more freight cars run on the rail. It also enables a densification of rail traffic, which benefits everyone.

“The new coupling fundamentally changes freight transport on rails and gives us the speed we need to save the climate. And it changes the previously hard work at freight yards: Around 70,000 times a day, our employees in shunting operations have to heave coupling bars weighing up to 20 kilograms to shoulder height in order to couple trains,” says Sigrid Nikutta, DB Board Member for Freight Transport.

Digitalization and automation of train operations are a strong signal to logistics customers: freight belongs on the rail. According to Nikutta, each of the trains saves 80 to 100 percent CO2 compared to road transport.