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On 21 June 2024, the Governing Board of Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail) adopted a Call for Expression of Interest (CEI) with a view to selecting associated members with the potential to contribute to the achievement of its objectives. The Governing Board decision can be accessed here.
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EU-Rail’s Innovation Pillar (IP) is tasked to deliver operational and technological solutions that contribute to a more efficient, flexible, and demand-led, yet safe and environmentally sustainable European railway system.
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For a successful and effective implementation of the Digital Automatic Coupler for European rail freight (DAC), it is of crucial importance to have open, close and efficient cooperation between rail stakeholders. The European DAC Delivery Programme enabled by Europe’s Rail, offers a unique European platform for such cooperation and collaboration.
The Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking is the predecessor programme of the Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail), established by Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 of 19 November 2021.
Discover detailed information on Europe's rail innovation initiatives, showcasing flagship and other projects aimed at enhancing rail systems across Europe. It highlights collaborative efforts funded by the European Union to develop sustainable, efficient, and competitive rail transport solutions.
Europe’s Rail Catalogue of Solutions illustrates successful R&I results in the form of possible products and solutions, while highlighting the benefits for final users, operators, infrastructure managers and/or suppliers. This publication also outlines the advantages of integrating demonstrators into market solutions so that they can deliver the rail innovation Capabilities of the future.
Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail) is the European partnership on rail research and innovation established under the Horizon Europe programme (2020-2027) and the universal successor of the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking.
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Following the path paved by the Shift2Rail program and FP5-TRANS4M-R project, using the strength of Europe’s Rail, FP5-DACtiVate will consequently boost innovation for the European rail freight sector by setting the projects high-level objectives by preparing the wide deployment of DAC in Europe, that are linked to technical objectives (TO):
Objective 1: Pre-deployment trains validation under controlled environment
To ensure the successful pre-deployment of trains, our goal is the conduction of comprehensive tests to validate and demonstrate the operational suitability of the DAC. We will perform validation tests for DAC authorization support to meet the following technical objectives:
TO1: Validate of derailment safety with longitudinal forces of at least 500kN. Provide reliable measurement data for validation of the simulation tool developed in TRANS4M-R WP4.
TO2: Validate safety requirements of DAC components i.e. draft gears in event of crash. Focus lies of tank wagons transporting dangerous goods.
TO3: Validation of DAC functions at different temperatures and climatic conditions.
Objective 2: Demonstrate modularity and interchangeability of Interface A ready DAC
Perform tests to gain knowledge about the interchangeability between two main components of a DAC Unit (coupler head and draft gear) and different suppliers (mix-and-match tests). Based on analysis and experience from testing a validation plan will be conducted. This will be done by fulfilling the following technical objectives:
TO4: Design coherent mix-and-match test specification.
TO5: Conduct test runs in accordance with the test specifications to demonstrate the capabilities of interchangeability to gain necessary input for a validation plan.
TO6: Create solid foundation for the authorisation process ensuring modular interoperability (mixed components from different DAC suppliers as designed in FP5-TRANS4M-R.
Objective 3: Enable validation of hybrid coupler for mainline and shunting locomotives in pre-deployment trains
Based on FP5-TRANS4M-R test specification for DAC hybrid coupler, FP5-DACtiVate will provide a platform for testing of a Hybrid-Digital-Automatic–Coupler and EDDP defined basic/starter package for pre-deployment train operations meeting following technical objectives:
TO7: Provision of locomotives to be fully equipped with hybrid-couples for DAC operation for pre-deployment trains. This includes – but not exclusive – hybrid coupler, control unit for coupler, energy supply, all necessary sensors and actors, locomotive onboard unit, user interface, with the overall aim to enable the functions of the defined EDDP basic package for pre-deployment trains.
TO8: Integration and testing of the technical solutions in the locomotives targeting authorization of locomotive(s) with the EDDP basic package functions.
Objective 4: Enable wide validation of Wagon On-Board Units (WOBUs)
TO9: Provision of equipment developed in FP5-TRANS4M-R project enabling the demonstration of compliance in relevant operational environment with the full digital freight train operation system architecture developed by FP5-TRANS4M-R project.
