COTIF in the framework of ESCAP

F. Davenne

Bangkok – September 2017

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➢ 1893 - first international Convention regarding international freight traffic by rail

➢ Currently - base Convention with seven Appendices covering various aspects of

international traffic by rail

➢ Is international law

➢ Member States can make declarations not to apply selected parts of COTIF

COTIF – uniform railway law to connect Europe, Asia and Africa

Freight / Passenger Contracts

Legal interoperability

Dangerous Goods Regulation

Exchange of dangerous goods wagons

Technical Regulation

Safe exchange of vehicles

Technical interoperability

Added value and legal scope

5Added value of uniform railway law to connect Europe, Asia and Africa

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Appendix А

CIV

Uniform Rules

concerning

the Contract

of

International

Carriage

of

Passengers

by Rail

Appendix B

CIM

Uniform Rules

concerning

the Contract

of International

Carriage

of Goods

by Rail

Appendix C

RID

Regulation

concerning

the

International

Carriage

of Dangerous

Goods

by Rail

Appendix D

CUV

Uniform Rules

concerning

Contracts of

Use

of Vehicles

in International

Rail Traffic

Appendix E

CUI

Uniform Rules

concerning

the Contract

of Use of

Infrastructure

in International

Rail Traffic

Appendix F

APTU

Uniform Rules

concerning

the Validation

of Technical

Standards and

Adoption of

Uniform

Technical

Prescriptions

applicable to

Railway

Material

Appendix G

ATMF

Uniform Rules

concerning

the Technical

Admission of

Railway

Material

used

in International

Traffic

COTIF base convention and Appendices - relation to EU and UN rules

COTIF : Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail

LEGAL INTEROPERABILITY TECHNICAL INTEROPERABILITY

7COTIF: neutral regulations

The legal regime can be applied irrespective of the national political, legal or

economic system. In particular:

• railway undertakings may be private or State-owned;

• the railway market may be fully or partly liberalised or non-liberalised;

• the railway market structure may be vertically integrated (railway

undertaking and infrastructure manager form a single entity) or separated

(railway undertaking and infrastructure manager are separate and

independent entities);

• railway undertakings may cooperate or compete.

=> COTIF’s broad geographical scope demonstrates that it works,

irrespective of the political, legal or economic system that exists in

States that have acceded to the COTIF uniform legal system.

Implementation of COTIF regulations:

A matter of partnership

9Application of CIM/CIV Uniform Rules

10Technical implementation of international rail services

UTPs

TSIs

(common) procurement specifications

System Specific

standards

APTU ATMF

Detailed engineering

11Exchange of vehicles

The traditional model for international rail transport

Border crossing station

Requires, e.g.:

• Wagons and passenger coaches approved for international operation

• Harmonised vehicle interfaces

• Clear responsibilities concerning vehicle maintenance

• Multiple railway undertakings to bring vehicle to its destination

12Technical interoperability: future Appendix H

Running complete trains safely across borders from departure to destination

Requires, e.g.:

• Rolling stock approved for international operation

• Railway undertakings certified to operate in multiple States

• Infrastructure managers capable of working with different RUs

• Clearly defined responsibilities at interfaces between RUs and IM

• Separation between State Authorities and national railway operator

13Telematics Application for freight : transposition into COTIF

Planning of the transposition:

In 2015, the OTIF Secretariat issued a study concerning the possible transposition

of TAF into COTIF. The study addressed

the question of whether TAF should be transposed and if

so, how.

The report and the transposition question were then discussed in the CTE and WG TECH. In general,

there was support for transposition.

It was suggested that the Secretariat organise a TAF

workshop aimed at non-EU MSs. This workshop has been co-organised with

ERA.

As a next step, the CTE should mandate

the start of the transposition work

The transposition could be prepared in 2016/17 to be voted

on at the CTE in June 2017 at the earliest.

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Organisation intergouvernementale pour les transports internationaux ferroviaires

Zwischenstaatliche Organisation für den internationalen Eisenbahnverkehr

Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail

Gryphenhübeliweg 30

CH - 3006 Berne

+ 41 (0)31 359 10 10

media@otif.org

www.otif.org