The invention concerns a coupling device for railway coaches, comprising a coupling rod whereof the two ends are linked by a ball joint to the underframe of two successive coaches to be coupled. The coupling rod (2) comprises, at each end a hinge yoke (4) acting as cup for the ball joint (9) of a drawbar (10) extending the coupling rod and passing through a shock-absorber device (11) mounted on the underframe (1) of a coach and includes, on the side of the coupling rod, a first push plate (13) in contact with said hinge yoke (4), such that any misalignment of drawbar and the coupling rod causes, via the hinge yoke, a compression of the shock absorber device, and in response, an elastic return effect in the direction realigning the drawbar with the coupling rod.