E-coupler from Voith sets benchmarks for freight transportation

The e-coupler developed by Voith will be uniformly applied in FP5-TRANS4-R. This decision was made by the FP5-TRANS4M-R steering committee at the end of February 2024. This approach has now been endorsed by the Programme Board of the European DAC Delivery Programme (EDDP) in April 2024 and the EDDP Supervisory Board in July 2024. The Voith e-coupler design will eventually be the basis for interface standardization to establish a standard for European rail freight transport. The e-coupler is the key component that ensures the power supply and data transmission in all wagons and locomotives of a digital freight train.

The selection is the result of a transparent process that started in autumn 2023 with the definition of selection criteria by an operators’ expert group and agreed by the coupler manufacturers. The criteria were focused on technical aspects on one hand and acquisition and maintenance costs on the other hand. In a thorough four-month test campaign the e-couplers were tested in FP5-TRANS4M-R, the DAC4EU train and the manufacturer’s test benches. The Voith solution particularly impressed the group of experts when it came to evaluating the costs.

The decision for an e-coupler design marks a major milestone towards the interoperability of the DAC in Europe. Voith is once again setting benchmarks in this area and thus making an important contribution to achieving the goals of the European Green Deal.

Separating electrical coupling from mechanical coupling has the advantage that the e-coupler always moves at the same speed after its delayed release. This means that the e-coupler and contacts always remain well protected at impact speeds of up to 12 km/h.

The CargoFlex, Voith's automatic freight coupler, is equipped with a simple mechanism that makes it possible to block the automatic forward movement of the e-coupler and the opening of the cover. Despite mechanical connection of the coupler locks, the e-coupler always remains securely in its retracted position and the cover remains firmly closed. This also enables interoperability with passenger couplers and shunting over the hump.

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