Speaking during a demonstration of prototype coupling devices at the DB Systemtechnik Minden Research center on August 31, Sabine Jeschke, DB Board Member for Digitalization and Technology, said that this technology "opens the door for integrated automation and digitalization of rail transportation." This will significantly increase the capacity of the marshalling yards, she continued, which " means a digital revolution for freight transport by rail.""

For more concrete numbers, DB plans to rebuild a fleet of 60,000 waggons whenever they finally have a working, tested product in the future. European-wide up to 490,000 waggons (and 17,000 locomotives) could be rebuilt. Cost per waggon is estimated at 15,000-17,000 Euro, although that seems to be a high estimate (i've seen 5,000 for the coupler, 2,500 for installation and 5,000 for telematics quoted).

Tentative planning for that is to start by 2023 or 2024, mostly because end of 2022 is when the federal grant for the project runs out. The project has been going on for a couple years now, the current test phase - started in September - is trialling products from four supplier companies. All four suppliers are well-known and -established in railway brake technology - Voith from Germany, Dellner from Sweden, CAF from Spain and Wabtec - formerly Westinghouse - from the US. The 24-waggon test train from the article will run once one of these four is selected, planned for spring 2021.