DB Cargo is pushing ahead with the digitalisation of its wagon fleet. By 2020, the entire fleet of around 68,000 cars will be connected to the digital world. The company is investing millions in the transformation of its analog railcars.

The entire wagon fleet is to be equipped with GPS and various sensors. Through a telematics module, such as GPS, RFID and NFC tags, the analog freight cars will be transferred to the fully networked digital world. The equipped car transmits signals via mobile radio while driving and during events such as the start, stop or an impact. This can be used to determine useful information about the load condition, temperature, humidity or movement of sensitive goods.

Shift to rail

“The intelligent freight cars make rail freight transport more modern and sustainable. Our customers benefit from better controllable logistics chains, higher transport quality and predictable arrival times. In doing so, we want to permanently shift more traffic to the environmentally friendly freight railways and make our contribution to ‘strong railway’ in Germany and Europe”, commented Marek Staszek, DB Cargo’s Production Director.

In 2017, DB Cargo announced its goal of fitting 2,000 locomotives with new diagnostic technology by 2020. AT that time, nearly 1,000 of its hi-tech locomotives, which are in active service around Europe, provided information about the engine’s condition.