DAC interview: Christian Radewagen on the dawn of digital rail freight
The digital automatic coupler (DAC) is here, with benefits ranging from sustainability to efficiency and beyond. It’s time to get ready for the future of rail freight.
We spoke to Christian Radewagen about the potential of digital rail freight, the need to work together, and how Voith is at the very forefront of the DAC transition.
Why is the DAC so decisive to the future of rail freight?
Well, it’s simply revolutionary. Consider this: It introduces automatic coupling to European rail freight and delivers world-first digital capabilities. Getting rid of manual processes speeds things up in all sorts of ways. Digitization also lets you run longer and heavier trains.
With the DAC, freight is automatically connected and digitally networked.
The outstanding efficiency of the DAC’s functions makes it crucial to the European Green Deal, which targets significantly reduced CO2 emissions and a higher proportion of freight by rail. To achieve all that, we must seize on the potential of digital freight.
Those are some lofty goals. How will they be achieved?
Only by working together. Some 500,000 freight wagons and 23,000 locomotives across Europe have been earmarked for a DAC retrofit process to begin by 2028, so time is of the essence. The policy-makers behind EU-Rail Flasgship Project 5 TRANS4M-R are embarking on an intensive test phase that embodies this sense of cooperation. Up to 100 Pioneer DAC Trains (PDTs) are to be deployed for a 2-year period by selected operators.
领英推荐
Got any concerns about the scale of the upcoming change? Look to Voith. Our excellent progress is shown by our CargoFlex Hybrid for locomotives, which offers both manual and automated coupling for a gradual and confident transition to the DAC. What’s important now is that mandatory milestones like the funding concept and authorization strategy must be met.
What does the shift to digital rail freight mean for everyday operations?
Full-scale digitization gives rail freight a bright future. Moving from analog to digital makes processes faster, safer, and more efficient.
The DAC turns each freight train into an intelligent system, and the possibilities are hugely exciting.
If you’re wondering what that looks like in practice, check out the all-new digital functions provided by Voith. Train composition detection, automatic brake tests, and electrical coupling triggered from the driver’s cab: It’s truly a new age of rail freight. Freight trains will finally become part of a European network.
Executive Chairman of Maschinen and TECHNIK InC
4 个月We in MATEC as agent for Voith Railways in the Philippines never gave up the hope that the country will start to recognize the importance of freight trains . The realization will start in Mindanao and Voith coupler Technology could again contribute to the new development
Sales Director
4 个月Más allá de las ventajas operativas, el DAC supone dejar atrás un tiempo en el que un vagón sale a la RFIG sin monitorizar, a través de un estándar a nivel europeo. ??