SHN Cargo and the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) have completed a two-year trial of digital automatic couplers (DAC) on an intermodal train between Nässjö and the Port of Gothenburg.
According to SHN Cargo, the demonstration delivered operational experience and positive technical results from commercial service. Trafikverket described the tests as the first deployment of DAC in commercial operation in Europe.
The next phase will expand testing to include an interface for electricity and data transmission. This work will be conducted within the PioDAC project, coordinated by Trafikverket, and will assess additional digital and sensor-based functions enabled by the coupler.
SHN Cargo stated it will continue participating in further development of automated and digital freight train operations in cooperation with Trafikverket and other industry partners.
Trafikverket was also included in the recent tests of CargoNet leading to OnRail planning a DAC freight train operation in 2027 between Oslo and Bergen.
