A coupling for a rail vehicle, preferably a freight locomotive, comprising - a coupler shank for attaching the coupling to a rail vehicle, - a coupler head pivotably connected to a free end of the coupler shank so as to rotate about a primary axis between an operational position and a non-operational position, - a locking member which is configured to assume a locking position in which it blocks rotation of the coupler head about the primary axis when the coupler head is in the operational position and - a pivoting mechanism configured to rotate the coupler head about the primary axis, wherein the pivoting mechanism is configured to release the locking member, wherein, when the pivoting mechanism is actuated so as to rotate the coupler head from the coupler head's operational position to the coupler head's non-operational position, the pivoting mechanism moves from an operational state to an interim state in a first period and from the interim state to a non-operational state in a second period, wherein the pivoting mechanism is configured to release the locking member during the first period and to rotate the coupler head into the non-operational position during the second period, wherein the pivoting mechanism comprises a rod having a first end section connected to the coupler shank and a second end section connected to the coupler head, wherein at least one of the first and second end sections (3A, 3B) is pivotably mounted and wherein the rod pivots about the at least one pivotably mounted end section (3A, 3B) when the pivoting mechanism moves from the operational state to the interim state and further from the interim state to the non-operational state, wherein the pivoting mechanism comprises a cylinder and a plunger extending from the cylinder, wherein the arrangement is such that the cylinder and plunger move relative to one another along a common longitudinal axis when the pivoting mechanism moves from the operational state to the interim state and further from the interim state to the non-operational state, wherein the cylinder and plunger form part of the rod such that the rod is extendable, characterized in that a first force that needs to be overcome by the pivoting mechanism in order to release the locking member and that acts on the first end section of the rod is lower than a second force that needs to be overcome by the pivoting mechanism in order to rotate the coupler head from its operating position toward its non-operating position and which acts on the second end section of the rod, wherein the first force and the second force are forces which act on the rod in opposite directions along a longitudinal axis of the rod. - a coupler shank for attaching the coupling to a rail vehicle, - a coupler head pivotably connected to a free end of the coupler shank so as to rotate about a primary axis between an operational position and a non-operational position, - a locking member which is configured to assume a locking position in which it blocks rotation of the coupler head about the primary axis when the coupler head is in the operational position and - a pivoting mechanism configured to rotate the coupler head about the primary axis, wherein the pivoting mechanism is configured to release the locking member, wherein, when the pivoting mechanism is actuated so as to rotate the coupler head from the coupler head's operational position to the coupler head's non-operational position, the pivoting mechanism moves from an operational state to an interim state in a first period and from the interim state to a non-operational state in a second period, wherein the pivoting mechanism is configured to release the locking member during the first period and to rotate the coupler head into the non-operational position during the second period, wherein the pivoting mechanism comprises a rod having a first end section connected to the coupler shank and a second end section connected to the coupler head, wherein at least one of the first and second end sections (3A, 3B) is pivotably mounted and wherein the rod pivots about the at least one pivotably mounted end section (3A, 3B) when the pivoting mechanism moves from the operational state to the interim state and further from the interim state to the non-operational state, wherein the pivoting mechanism comprises a cylinder and a plunger extending from the cylinder, wherein the arrangement is such that the cylinder and plunger move relative to one another along a common longitudinal axis when the pivoting mechanism moves from the operational state to the interim state and further from the interim state to the non-operational state, wherein the cylinder and plunger form part of the rod such that the rod is extendable, characterized in that a first force that needs to be overcome by the pivoting mechanism in order to release the locking member and that acts on the first end section of the rod is lower than a second force that needs to be overcome by the pivoting mechanism in order to rotate the coupler head from its operating position toward its non-operating position and which acts on the second end section of the rod, wherein the first force and the second force are forces which act on the rod in opposite directions along a longitudinal axis of the rod.