After launching a new round of tests for the Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC), Austrian Rail Cargo Group underlined that “the preliminary results of the winter tests are entirely positive”. Most of the tests run so far entail the ability of the coupler to deal with extreme weather conditions and single wagonload traffic.
The tests led by RCG started in the second half of January and will last until the end of the year. The tests involved various types of wagons Eanos, Sgnss, Shimmns (4668 & 4676), Habbiins, Talns and Faccns and two Siemens Vectron locomotives. These tests can be considered as the link between the tests run in Sweden throughout 2026 and large-scale DAC tests planned for 2027.
The pilot in Sweden also aimed at testing DAC under extreme weather conditions, but with a much heavier train moving steel. After country-specific tests, next year it will be time to take it a step further with large-scale ones. The plan is to equip 250 wagons and 15 locomotives with DAC and have them run throughout the Old Continent.
