Austria: The tests were conducted with technical support from Siemens Mobility and the Austrian operator ÖBB.
Knorr-Bremse’s Hybrid Link and Voith’s CargoFlex Hybrid couplers were installed on Vectron AC and Dual Mode locomotives. The tests demonstrated successful coupling between both manufacturers’ hybrid couplers as well as traditional screw coupling, though several issues requiring refinement were identified.
Compatibility testing of hybrid digital couplers from Knorr-Bremse and Voith. Source: Knorr-Bremse
In 2024, Voith’s solution was selected as the DAC standard following a tender. The DAC system connects automatically the rolling stock both physically (the mechanical connection and the air line for braking) as well as digitally (electrical power and data connection). Pilot implementation in Europe is scheduled for 2026, with full-scale deployment to begin from 2028. Voith hopes to install the DAC on 23,000 locomotives and 450,000 freight cars by 2030. However, some EU operators doubt over the project’s feasibility.
