DAC and Seamless Rail Freight in the spotlight!

The meeting marks out high sector expectations related to delivering deployable technology and results in order to support joint efforts in transforming Europe’s rail freight. The general progress of the project was presented in the morning followed by five thematic sessions with presentations and panel discussions in the afternoon. Here you can read a short summary of the second and last session. 

Progress and challenges on Testing, Demonstration, Authorisation and Yard Automation

Anna Björkman, Program Manager for Rail Sweden was key speaker for session two. This session focused on testing and demonstration of DAC/FDFTO technology and yard automation as well as the strategy for authorization in Europe. As planned, the tests in the Train Test Lab and one of the Demonstrator trains are already running while the others are in preparation. Excessive testing is key for authorisation and implementing the technology.

To enable a smooth and effective authorisation of DAC equipped locomotives and wagons the European Agency for Railways have set up a workgroup together with EU-Rail, the sector and the support of the European Commission.

The progress and challenges on Seamless Rail freight

Sneha Gosavi was key speaker at the concluding session which focused on the Seamless Rail Freight project cluster. Key activities within this project include the development of technology and the establishment of standards to optimize planning, efficient management and operational processes in terminals and yards, along with their integration with main lines. This also encompasses standardized European checkpoints, intermodal prediction systems and multimodal integration. 

Another focus area is seamless data exchange. This aims to provide an overall framework for a seamless and harmonized exchange of data, for activities within Destination 5 SeamlessFreight and the connection to Cluster 1: FDFTO. This will be developed using existing technologies.