03.03.2022
Artikel Nummer: 39848
Screw coupling to be phased out
A prototype of the digital automatic coupler (DAC) was recently presented in Vienna, Austria. The system is to be gradually phased in on Europe’s rail networks between 2026 and 2030 and is expected to give a huge boost to the planned energy transition and railfreight transport.
Currently, freight cars in Europe are connected manually using screw couplers. For each coupling process, a screw weighing over 20 kg must be laboriously lifted and the air line connected. In all weathers, this accident-prone activity has to be carried out around 300 times per shift. Around 450,000 freight cars and 17,000 traction units are affected. (ben)
https://rail-research.europa.eu