Swiss company plc-tec has introduced a new digital communication technology that will enable a European Union Project to make freight trains fully digital.
The flagship project, TRANS4M-R Transforming Europe’s Rail Freight, has been done in collaboration with over fifty partners from across Europe, including Swiss SBB Cargo and Czech České Dráhy. The project seeks to reduce congestion and increase productivity by digitizing manual processes through Digital Automatic Coupling, saving time and reducing costs.
Partners for the project range from transport companies and industrial suppliers to universities and research institutions, each contributing in different ways. As explained by plc-tec cofounder and CEO Ulrich Dersch “We contributed our technology for a train-wide communication system, Powerline PLUS Train Backbone PTB,”
Since the Summer of 2025, PTB has successfully field tested every train function, which Dersch believes demonstrates the technology’s ability to serve as the backbone of the digital freight train. Because data transmission can be done through the existing train power line, the need for additional cables and data networks is eliminated. This would not only reduce costs in both installation and maintenance but also reduce the number of points of failure.
Through creating a robust and affordable solution, Dersch believes Switzerland has solidified it’s reputation as a pioneer in railway technologies and standards.
The development comes at a time when rail freight has seen a downward trend across Europe, only accounting for 16% of total goods transportation in the European Union. On the 27th of May, Czech Transport Minister Ivan Bednárik launched an initiative for a debate at the European Union level on measures to support this sector. He calls for investment in digitization, a process that could be greatly aided by plc-tec’s PTB technology.
With digitalization, rail freight could become more efficient and take a larger market share, helping the European Union reach logistic and sustainability goals.