Tomorrow's Digital Freight Trains Tested in Sweden!

The demonstration train is a key element in the efforts to test the digital automatic coupler, which aims to modernise rail freight traffic.

Anna Björkman, responsible for the tests and programme manager at Rail Sweden, Lindholmen Science Park, explains the trials.

- It is important to run demonstration trains in several locations across Europe to test the technical solutions, ensure reliability, and allow users to understand how the automatic coupler works. In the Swedish demonstration train, we are testing the technology in regular, commercial traffic to examine how the automatic coupler performs over long periods, especially during the colder seasons.

Automatic Couplers – A Piece of Tomorrow’s Digital Railway

The initiative and work to develop the digital automatic coupler (DAC) are being carried out within the Europe’s Rail collaboration and the FP5 TRANS4M-R* project. The project’s overarching goal is to increase the railway's capacity, quality, and productivity, in part by developing automated and digitalised work processes that contribute to higher efficiency and a safer railway system.

Multiple Benefits of Automatic Couplers

The development of the DAC plays a significant role as it enables several digital solutions. DAC allows for faster coupling and decoupling of wagons compared to today’s physically demanding and time-consuming process, as well as facilitating the operation of longer and heavier trains. It will also enable remote-controlled decoupling of wagons, improving safety and working conditions. Additionally, it opens the door to automated brake testing, streamlining the process of preparing trains for departure.

300,000 Kilometres of Test Data for Analysis

The demonstration train is operated by CFL Cargo and runs between the Port of Gothenburg and Nässjö's intermodal terminal. The train consists of 20 freight wagons, with three pairs equipped with DAC from different manufacturers. The purpose is to study how the couplers perform over time and under winter conditions, providing valuable input for the life-cycle cost analysis ahead of the DAC's introduction to European freight wagons. The demonstration train will run from mid-2024 for approximately two years, covering around 300,000 kilometres.

Jan Bergstrand, senior strategist at Trafikverket and programme manager for freight within Europe’s Rail, comments on the significance of the demonstration trains.

- The demonstrations are crucial to developing and validating the solutions, as well as confirming that an investment in DAC enables the implementation of complementary technologies that can shift more freight from road to rail.

A Project with Multiple Partners

Trafikverket has been responsible for defining which tests should be carried out and preparing the demonstration train, with Rail Sweden serving as the project leader. Svensk Maskinprovning is also participating in the project. At the start, the demonstration train is equipped with digital automatic couplers from Knorr-Bremse, Dellner, and Voith.

* This project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.