Onrail to run Digital Automatic Coupling tests in Norway

Digital Automatic Coupling tests in Norway will start next year, as RailTech reports. Also, Onrail will fit the couplers to trains on the Oslo-Bergen route. These will run intermodal services between Oslo and Bergen. The programme will run until 2028.

Digital Automatic Coupling tests in Norway

The plans announced by railway agency Jernbanedirektoratet are part of the broader PioDAC project. Meanwhile, ‘pioneer trains’ will operate in eight countries. In addition, Italy will host DAC pilots for intermodal services. Separately, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Slovenia and Sweden will take part in the tests. These will cover the transport of different bulk materials.

How DAC will be used across Europe?

DAC automates the coupling process between freight wagons. At the same time, it keeps power, data and compressed air lines connected. This applies along the full length of the train. This reduces heavy physical work for railway staff. It also speeds up train formation and brake testing.

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Preliminary trials are already under way. For example, Germany launched the first commercial pilot in the summer of 2025. In Sweden, testing examined whether DAC could operate in extreme weather conditions. Meanwhile, Austrian Rail Cargo Group is testing DAC on different wagon types. It plans to continue throughout 2026.

DAC cost problem and Bergen Line traffic

One of the main issues raised by DAC critics is cost. Still, it remains unclear who would have to pay for it. With no clear guidelines from EU institutions, estimates vary and have risen over time. Many in the sector put unit cost at between 22,000 and 25,000 euros. The total project cost is estimated at around 15 billion euros.

The Bergen Line links Norway’s two largest cities. It is a key route for rail freight and intermodal services. As Jernbanedirektoratet notes, Onrail and state-owned CargoNet account for 60% of total traffic there. In addition, 12 convoys run each day.

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