German braking systems manufacturer Knorr-Bremse is working on the development of the initial prototypes of Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC) for freight trains.
After production, the first prototypes will be improved for series production, with the beginning of the planned upgrade stage during mid-decade.
Knorr-Bremse has reached an ‘advanced’ stage of validation and is extending its modular offerings as well as increasing the production facilities.
The company plans to develop the DAC as per the timeline set by the European DAC Delivery Programme (EDDP).
DAC is expected to serve as a centrepiece to support a fully digitised freight train.
Freight cars and locomotives are currently joined together in a manual way.
Apart from mechanical couplers, the only other attachment between the freight cars and locomotives is the pipe comprising compressed air for the braking systems.
Meanwhile, DAC will for the first time house an air line together with data, as well as power lines.
