2026-09-22 Voith at InnoTrans: Without a strong rail system, there can be no competitive Europe

Berlin, Germany, September 22, 2026. Europe’s industry relies on an efficient rail freight system. In a changing geopolitical landscape, rail is also becoming increasingly important for Europe’s ability to respond in times of crisis.

According to Eurostat, rail freight transport volume in the EU fell by 1.8% in 2025 to 368 billion ton-kilometers, marking the fourth consecutive year of decline. In addition to the weak industrial economy, high costs and structural productivity disadvantages are weighing on the sector.

In Europe, freight cars are still frequently coupled manually using screw couplers. Consequently, train formation and shunting processes are time-consuming and labor-intensive.

The Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC) is a key component in the digitalization of freight trains. With CargoFlex, Voith has developed a DAC solution that not only automates mechanical coupling but also establishes energy and data connections between the cars. This transforms the analog freight car into a digitally connected car and many connected cars into a smart freight train. Automated processes, from brake testing to condition monitoring, are thus made possible.

CargoFlex is already in use in commercial freight transport. The coupler has been successfully in regular operation in Switzerland since 2019 and thus has more than half a decade of practical experience in commercial rail freight transport. A total of 230 freight cars and 25 locomotives have been equipped with the system. This makes CargoFlex the only DAC solution with a multi-year, commercially proven track record in European rail freight transport.

The technological development of the DAC is well advanced. For Europe-wide migration, approximately 900,000 couplers for freight cars and about 46,000 couplers for roughly 23,000 locomotives must be retrofitted. Technical integration is particularly challenging when it comes to locomotives. This requires interoperability, a reliable migration path, and investment security.

With the funding program for DAC pioneer trains launched in September, the Federal Ministry of Transport of Germany has initiated the next phase of testing. The pioneer trains are intended to test the interaction between couplers and digital train functions under real-world operating conditions, thereby enabling an important step toward Europe-wide migration.

As part of the InnoTrans opening ceremony, Germany’s Federal Minister of Transport Steffen Bilger and Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, visited the Voith booth. The discussion focused on the digitalization of rail freight transport and the conditions necessary for successful Europe-wide scaling.