Description
The Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC) is a fundamental building block and milestone for the growth of rail freight transport throughout Europe!
In the history of the freight car, screw couplings have been used exclusively ever since. In this process, an approx. 20kg bracket must be placed on the hooks of two wagons in order to then be able to connect the two wagons by turning a screw thread of the couplings. The air lines for brakes as well as power and data bus lines are then coupled by hand. Thanks to the DAC, freight cars are now automatically connected to each other without the need for manual work by the shunting personnel. At the same time, all the necessary connections are also coupled together.
By 2030, all trains in Europe are to be equipped with a DAC. This is the demand of a joint charter of industry players. The charter’s goal: By 2030 at the latest, freight cars throughout Europe should be able to couple automatically, freight trains should be completely digitized and digitally networked from the locomotive to the last car.
