Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) is an innovative component to automatically couple and decouple the rolling stock in a freight train both physically (the mechanical connection and the air line for braking) as well as digitally (electrical power and data connection). DAC is key to enable the needed increase in efficiency and transparency of rail freight.
Digital Automatic Coupling Video produced by S2R JU and ÖBB for EDDP, published on 2 September 2021
For a successful and effective implementation of DAC, it is of crucial importance to have open, close and efficient cooperation between railway undertakings, infrastructure managers and wagon keepers, as well as the rail supply industry, entities in charge of maintenance, concerned sector organisations, rail research centres and national and European political institutions. The European DAC Delivery Programme, under the leadership of Shift2Rail, offers a unique European platform for such cooperation and collaboration.
Its principal aim is to deliver a European DAC through an integrated shared programme building upon R&I results and pilots which ensures the necessary actions for a fast, technically and economically feasible European‐wide roll‐out.
One of the objectives of Working Package 6 on Communication is to get all stakeholders on board and convince all the actors about the huge benefits of introducing the DAC at a European scale.
As a very first step a dedicated page on the works of the EDDP has been created on the S2R website where you can find all basic
information including a media database where all related press releases will be featured and an online application form for all
experts willing to participate to the programme.
The Shift2Rail comms department has managed to translate the first version of the EDDP DAC factsheet to all EU languages and a standard EDDP presentation has been developed for universal use together with the EDDP Programme Managers so that it could serve as the basis for all presentations given by EDDP representatives at information events. It explains the goals of the programme, its structure, the ongoing work in the different bodies as well as the overall benefits and challenges of the DAC
introduction. Both documents are now available on the S2R website under: https://shift2rail.org/european‐dac‐delivery‐programme/additional‐resources/