Austria
Hungary
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bulgaria
China
Germany
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Italy
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The Netherlands
Poland
Romania
Russia
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Slovakia
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Czech Republic
Turkey
Together with the transport ministers from Germany and Switzerland, Federal Minister for Mobility, Leonore Gewessler signed the position paper "The DAK is coming!". In doing so, the ministers clearly express their commitment to a swift cross-border introduction of the Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) and also declare their willingness to co-finance it at national level. They are calling upon the European Union for a joint financing concept that takes into account the different financial situations of European railway companies. The DAC is considered a decisive milestone in the modernisation and digitalisation of European rail freight transport and in achieving the climate targets of the EU Green Deal.
Making rail freight transport fit for the future
"With the introduction of the DAC, we anticipate significant improvements in productivity, thereby enhancing competitiveness and safety. It serves as the foundation for digitizing the entire train production process, leading to increased track capacity," states Clemens Först, CEO of ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG). "For years, we've been diligently working on bringing the DAC to market maturity through demonstrator and pre-series trains. Our aim is to develop a robust and affordable system. Furthermore, within the European program, we advocate for ensuring that all stakeholders can retrofit or equip their freight wagons with the DAC as soon as possible, considering various framework and financial conditions."
RCG in a leading role
The DAC is intended to gradually replace conventional screw coupling in Europe in several migration stages from 2026 onwards. The RCG is playing a leading role in the development and introduction of the DAC. In addition to managing the "European DAC Delivery Programme" (EDDP), where intensive work is being carried out on DAC migration plans, cost-benefit assessments and funding requirements, the ÖBB Group is also the largest partner in the European research project on DAC within "Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking" (EU Rail). The technical development, testing and demonstration of the DAC technology, including applications, are being carried out here.
14.05.2024