Westfälische Landes-Eisenbahn | RailFreight.com

First commercial tests for Hybrid DAC deemed successful

Marco Raimondi — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:29:23 +0000

The testing of Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) has been going at a much faster pace over the past few months. The latest milestone is the first-ever successful commercial test of a Hybrid DAC run by German local operator Westfälische Landes-Eisenbahn (WLE).
The Hybrid DAC will allow the combination of wagons with DAC and wagons not yet equipped, as DAC4EU explained. In other words, rolling stock would maintain their traditional coupling mechanism and pair it with DAC so that they can accommodate different ways of being connected.

The WLE train ran between Lippstadt and Warstein, in northwestern Germany. Along the line, roughly 30 kilometres long, WLE usually moves construction material as well as beer and also provides single wagonload services. The company has been at the forefront of DAC testing, as it carried out the first commercial tests for traditional DAC last summer.

Another view of the Hybrid DAC test train. Image: LinkedIn © DAC4EU – Digital Automatic Coupling for Europe

DAC tests recap

Since the beginning of 2026, the amount of tests announced and launched in the context of DAC escalated. Other than the WLE tests, in cooperation with coupler manufacturer Voith, 2025 also saw DAC tests in Sweden to assess the coupler performance under extreme weather conditions.

This year is the turn of Austria Rail Cargo Group, which is running similar tests to the ones done in Sweden. Large-scale commercial tests are scheduled for 2027, where seven trains will be equipped with the coupler and will run in nine different countries with raw materials or carrying out intermodal services.

Voith to run first-ever commercial DAC tests

Marco Raimondi — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 13:08:40 +0000

The project for Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) is taking an additional step with the first-ever commercial pilot in cooperation with a German local operator – Westfälische Landes-Eisenbahn (WLE). After tests with two wagons, DAC manufacturer Voith will deliver more e-couplers to equip 13 wagons and one locomotive.
“The European pilot project DAC4EU has now commissioned coupler manufacturer Voith to supply a further 30 CargoFlex freight couplers and two CargoFlex hybrid couplers”, the manufacturer said. The rolling stock will be equipped by the end of year, while the tests with the first wagons have been going on since March.

Only automatic brake test for now

It was not specified on which route the test train will be running, but Voith did offer some details on the tests themselves. The wagons will be connected via the e-coupler, which will provide continuous power and data supply, which will enable automatic brake testing. “Further functions, including automatic detection of train length, wagon sequence and train integrity, are planned for later operation”, the company added.

Westfälische Landes-Eisenbahn

WLE is part of Westfälische Verkehrsgesellschaft, a group managing various transport company in the Westphalia region, in northwestern Germany. The company owns and operates around 120 kilometres of network, moving around 1,4 million tonnes annually. Its main business revolves around limestone and cement. WLE also handles a service for the Warstein Brewery, taking its products to Munich and Hamburg.