Ten project partners lay the foundation in Copenhagen for Europe-wide testing of the Digital Automatic

Europe is taking an important step towards the introduction of the Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC). With the launch of the Pioneer DAC Train project (PioDAC) at the High-level Freight Meeting in Copenhagen on 20 November 2025, the foundation has now been laid for the first comprehensive testing of the DAC system in commercial operation on European freight corridors.

The project brings together railway companies from seven European countries, wagon owners, workshops, industry partners and shippers. The aim is to validate the technical and operational performance of the DAK in real-world conditions under a wide range of operating conditions – a key component for interoperable and efficient rail freight transport in Europe.

On 20 November, the project partners signed a memorandum of understanding in Copenhagen.

Pioneering operation from 2027

The Pioneer DAC Trains are scheduled to go into operation in 2027. They will operate across borders, serving marshalling yards, corridor routes and customer sidings, covering a wide variety of vehicle types, goods and environmental conditions. The operating data collected will provide a comprehensive picture of the DAK's operational capability, robustness and economic efficiency.

The project will run for 36 months and is co-financed by the European Union's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).