POLAND: A further round of Digital Automatic Coupler tests is taking place in Poznań in August. The tests will focus on whether coupler heads and drawgear from different manufacturers can be combined safely and reliably. The tests will involve Polish research institute Łukasiewicz–Poznański Instytut Technologiczny and PKP SA, the parent company of PKP Cargo, both of which are taking part in DAC testing for the first time. According to project partner Rail Sweden, the Poznań programme will focus on the project’s ‘mix and match’ concept, under which the coupler head and drawgear are treated as separate components connected through a defined interface. This allows components from different manufacturers to be combined, rather than requiring a complete coupler from a single supplier.