Unveiling of the first italian DAC demo train

The first Italian trial train equipped with DAC (Digital Automatic Coupling) technology is departing from Bologna. This system automates wagon coupling and allows energy and data to be exchanged throughout the train. The train - unveiled today by FS Logistix and the Interporto Bologna Logistics Hub during “Open Hub – Logistics 5.0 for Emilia-Romagna Businesses” - was featured in a demonstration of its cutting-edge functions, developed to make rail freight transport more digital, efficient and safer. Attending institutions, businesses and industry professionals took this opportunity to discuss the role of innovation and logistics infrastructure in the region’s competitiveness.

 

The DAC allows for automatic wagon coupling and uncoupling, and creates a power supply and data exchange network on the train. This technology paves the way for digital freight train preparation and management features, aimed at making operations safer and more efficient. The demonstration in Bologna is a concrete step toward taking these European solutions from the experimental stage to operational testing.

 

“With Italy’s first DAC demo train, we are bringing a tangible example of European railway innovation to Bologna - said Sabrina De Filippis, FS Logistix Chief Executive Officer and General Director - The results we are seeing today are the outcome of an extensive collaboration between operators, industry leaders, institutions and academia. And now it is the right time to turn them into tangible benefits for those working in the field and for companies that opted for rail transport. We chose the Interporto Bologna Logistics Hub because it reflects our vision of logistics, by connecting innovation to hubs and hubs to services. We want to harness the potential of the Emilia-Romagna Region, together with the Interporto Bologna Logistics Hub, by strengthening rail and intermodal connections to support production chains and boost their expansion into new markets.”

 

“Welcoming Italy’s first DAC demo train here at the Interporto Bologna Logistics Hub means playing a leading role in a transformation that looks to the future of rail freight transport. Innovation, digitalisation and intermodality are key drivers for making logistics more efficient and competitive, and safer - said Stefano Caliandro, Chairman of the Interporto Bologna Logistics Hub - The DAC system introduces new ways to automate and manage rail safety and logistics flows intelligently, and further strengthens Bologna’s role as a strategic national and European hub, serving local businesses and supply chains.”

 

The demo train, unveiled at the “DAC on Track” event, showcases the results of the work carried out by European railway research and innovation programmes right here in Bologna. FS Logistix and the Interporto Bologna Logistics Hub are part of the FP5-TRANS4M-R projects run by Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking. In the first project of this kind, FS Group leads the Work Package 17, focused on the Italian Demo Train, along with Mercitalia Intermodal, Mercitalia Rail, Mercitalia Shunting & Terminal and Interporto Bologna SpA for technology design, integration and validation activities.

 

Open Hub: Infrastructure and Services for the Regional Economy

After Torino Orbassano, the second Open Hub event was also an opportunity to bring together institutions and companies, share best practices and concrete actions to strengthen the logistics system of the Region, and turn it into a competitive logistics hub, based on intermodality and increasingly international connections. Attending the event were some of the leading regional logistic players, which shared interesting points on how the port, the freight hubs, the terminal and the railway are all connected to support businesses and attract new cargo flows. Moreover, the event proved to be the perfect stage to relaunch the Rail4Truck rail freight service between Bologna and Marcianise, offering a practical and effective solution to the current sharp rise in fuel costs to the market.

 

The morning began with welcome speeches by Stefano Caliandro, Chairman of the Interporto Bologna Logistics Hub and Franco Fenoglio, member of FS Group’s Board of Directors. The panel on innovation brought together representatives from Mercitalia Intermodal, Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking, Alstom, MIT and ANSFISA, while the following debate on infrastructure involved representatives from Interporto Bologna, Dinazzano Po, AdSP Ravenna, Terminal Rubiera and CePim Interporto Parma. Closing the event were speeches by Sabrina De Filippis and Irene Priolo, Councillor for the Emilia-Romagna Region.