Bern, 29/08/2013

The Secretary General,

François Davenne

Intermodality development :

OTIF‘s added value

•The Convention on international carriage by rail offers all interested nations and regional organisations for economic integration a “neutral” legal framework.

•Intermodal features within CIM/CIV/RID

•Common approaches ease co-operation and facilitate operations

•The development of a “law interface”

•A framework that offers legal and geographical flexibility

The Organisation

- CIM/CIV/CUV/CUI : Developing private law that helps to define liability regimes and contracts with CIT, UIP, UIC,OSJD and UNECE

- ATMF/PTU :Ensuring technical compatibility for rolling stock with CER, EU, ERA and UIC

- RID department: coordinating regulations on the international carriage of dangerous goods EU, OSJD and ADR/ADN.

=> a coordination and interfacing role

The Organisation – The Tasks

OTIF in international law

European Union:- Technical rules for interoperability and safety

-Internal regulation of transport contracts

- Implementation of liberal regulations for the rail market.

OSJD:- Technical rules for interoperability and safety

-Internal regulation of conditions of transport

-Administrative regulation of the rail market.

OTIF: Regulations on international rail transport

- Technical rules for interoperability/dangerous goods

-Regulation of transport contracts

- No prerequisite for regulating the rail market.

Intermodality as within OTIF :CIM lines in Baltic sea

Intermodality within OTIF :CIM lines in Mediterranean sea

Intermodality within OTIF :CIV lines in Baltic sea

Intermodality within OTIF :CIV lines in Mediterranean sea

The EU’s accession to COTIF

• The EU’s accession to COTIF in July 2011 is an opportunity to develop uniform railway law

• EU and OTIF have a complementary approach• COTIF CIM and CIV are based on a contractual

philosophy• EU law is by nature public law• With regard to technical regulation, OTIF has a

bridging role, in order to ensure interoperability on the largest possible scale

=> Development of OTIF relies on a consensus based approach

• Developing application of CIM and compatibility with OSJD rules will contribute to developing freight traffic, in particular by incorporating part of 1520 technical regulations

• Secure railway investment by giving technical regulations a wider scope

• Uniform maintenance and approval procedures will facilitate the development of industry

• Help the development of IT standards

=> Obtain input from our contracting states to improve regulations and develop technical standards

Foster industry developpement

• Involvement of OTIF in the UNECE process for unified railway law:

• There is a need for general transport contracts (GTC)• Interoperability issues must be addressed.

• A business oriented strategy involving our member states in partnership with EU, CIT and UIC:

• Identify tests on freight corridors: Asia/Middle East/Euro-Mediterranean area

• Review deficiencies and opportunity for development.

=> The rail facilitation process could foster the development of intermodal corridors with legal and technical coordination

Rail facilitation :An intermodal corridor

approach

QUESTIONS

Intergovernmental Organisationfor international Carriageby Rail

Developing international regulations for railways