The Luxembourg Rail Protocol: uniform law for rolling stock
09.12.2016
On 30 November 2016 in Rome, the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) hosted a symposium on the Luxembourg Rail Protocol.
Two “OTIF-COTIF” workshop south of the Mediterranean
19.10.2016
Two “workshop awareness days” entitled “OTIF-COTIF – Presentation of unified railway law” on 27 October 2016 and 2 November 2016.
Withdrawal of the Czech Republic’s reservations
09.09.2016
On 29 July 2016, the Czech Republic submitted an instrument to withdraw its reservations with immediate effect. The instruments were sent to the Secretary General of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF).
12.07.2016
On Tuesday, 12 July, a delegation from China’s National Railway Administration (NRA) visited the offices of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) in Berne
Cooperation between China and OTIF
05.07.2016
On 12 July 2016, the Secretariat of OTIF will have the pleasure of welcoming the Chinese National Railway Administration (NRA) to Berne.
Amendments for RID 2017 adopted
27.06.2016
On 25 May 2016 in Berne, the 2017 amendments to the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) were adopted by RID Committee of Experts, which is the Committee of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) that is responsible for these Regulations.
Committee of Technical Experts
14.06.2016
The Committee of Technical Experts (CTE) convened its ninth session on 7 and 8 June 2016 in Bern. The meeting was structured around three main groups of subjects: firstly, reporting on developments since the last session in 2015; secondly, the adoption of amendments to the existing rules and finally, the work plan for the coming period.
01.06.2016
Since 1 June 2016, the Russian version of the 2015 edition of the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) has been available on OTIF’s website.
OTIF – A Partner in UIC’s Global Rail Freight Conference (GRFC) 2016
25.05.2016
The Secretariat of the Intergovernmental organisation for International carriage by Rail (OTIF) is pleased to announce the 5th Global Rail Freight Conference (GRFC), in which it is a partner.
Ninth session of Committee of Technical Experts
17.05.2016
The Committee of Technical Experts of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) will meet in Berne on 7 and 8 June 2016.
OTIF, an international actor at the European Rail Summit
13.05.2016
European Rail Summit – The Secretary General of OTIF was invited to present OTIF’s international role in terms of legal and technical interoperability, particularly beyond the borders of the European Union.
OTIF present to celebrate UNIDROIT’s 90th year
10.05.2016
On Wednesday, 20 April 2016, the Secretary General of OTIF, took part in the international symposium organized in Rome by the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT)……
54th Session of the RID Committee of Experts
28.04.2016
The 54th session of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods will be held in Berne on 25 May 2016….
Accession of Ireland to COTIF 1999
15.04.2016
On 14 April 2016 in Berne, His Excellency the Ambassador of Ireland to Switzerland, Mr Breifne O’Reilly, presented to the Secretary General of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF), Mr François Davenne, ….
Understanding, entente and a common position
26.02.2016
On the first day of the 78th ITC (23-26 February 2016), the Secretary General of OTIF, Mr François Davenne, was invited to attend the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the International Union of Railways (UIC) and the Organization for Co-operation between Railways (OSJD).
The Principality of Monaco and Appendix G to COTIF
15.01.2016
Lastly, at the beginning of 2016 Monaco joins the majority of the Member States of OTIF who have chosen to apply all the Appendices to COTIF.
16.10.2015
On 13 October 2015, the Secretary General of OTIF, Mr François Davenne, received Mr Tadeusz Szozda, the chairman of the OSJD Committee, and Mr Viktor Zhukov, Vice-Chairman of the OSJD Committee.
Re-election of Secretary General of OTIF signals continuity
01.10.2015
The General Assembly of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) was held in Berne, Switzerland, on Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 September..
Withdrawal of declarations by United Kingdom and Slovakia
21.09.2015
On 27 and 28 August 2015 respectively, Slovakia and the United Kingdom submitted instruments to withdraw their declarations with immediate effect.
Entry into force of the amendments to COTIF 1999 and its Appendices
27.07.2015
On Wednesday, 1 July 2015, the amendments to COTIF and its Appendices entered into force. These amendments, which were adopted at the 25th session of the Revision Committee in Berne on 25 and 26 June 2014, were notified by the Secretary General of OTIF on 10 July 2014.
Transitional provision for RID 2015 has expired
02.07.2015
From 1 July 2015, it is mandatory to apply the 2015 edition of the Regulation concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) to the cross-border carriage of dangerous goods.
Explanatory document on ATMF 2015
26.06.2015
Clarification of the rules for the technical admission of railway rolling stock used in international traffic.
The uniform law of COTIF 1999 reaches Sweden
12.06.2015
On 12 June 2015 in Berne, His Excellency the Ambassador of Sweden to Switzerland, Mr Magnus Hartog-Holm, presented the instrument of ratification of the 1999 Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) to the Secretary General of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF), Mr François Davenne.
Accession of Azerbaijan to COTIF – OTIF’s 50th Member State
22.05.2015
On 6 May 2015, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr E. Mammadyarov, signed the instrument of accession to COTIF.
OTIF at the ASEM TMM3 forum, or the development of transport between Europe and Asia
13.05.2015
The Asia-Europe Dialogue, or Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), was created in 1996. This intergovernmental forum for dialogue and cooperation comprises 53 members situated in Europe and Asia. On 29 and 30 April 2015, ASEM organised its 3rd Transport Ministers’ Meeting (ASEM TMM3) under the auspices of the Latvian presidency of the Council of the European Union on the «Development of Euro-Asia Multimodal Transport Linkages – Status Quo and Blueprints for the Future».
21.04.2015
The 1st International Conference on Railway Interoperability, Standardisation and Harmonisation for Middle East Railways was held in Doha on 30 and 31 March 2015. It was jointly organised by the Qatar Railway Company (QRC) and the International Union of Railways (UIC).
Italy accedes to the uniform law of COTIF 1999
01.03.2015
Italy, a founding member of OTIF, has now ratified the 1999 version of the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF).
27.02.2015
In close cooperation with OTIF and CIT (International Rail Transport Committee), UIC (International Union of Railways), UIC Middle East Region and QRC (Qatar Ralways Company) are jointly organising the 1st UIC Regional Assembly for the Middle-East (RAME), entitled “International Conference on Railway Interoperability, Standardisation and Harmonisation for the Middle-East “.
This high-level conference will be held in Doha at the invitation of QRC from 30 – 31 March 2015.
OTIF and CIT will together take part in dealing with key areas of the facilitation of international rail traffic: interoperability, and technical, operational and legal harmonisation. For more information, see: http://www.uic.org/spip.php?article3371
Conference in Tehran on the application of COTIF organised in conjunction with UIC, ECO and RAI
12.12.2014
On 11 and 12 November 2014, a conference on the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) was held in Tehran in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Joint declaration – Recommendations
1.12.2014
East-West Passenger Traffic: Leaflet on COTIF/CIV-PRR – SMPS liability regimes (CIT-OTIF-DG MOVE)
There is now more clarity in terms of liability for passengers travelling from East to West: A trilingual leaflet by the International Rail Transport Committee (CIT), the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) and the Directorate General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission (DG MOVE) describes the rules of the three liability regimes COTIF/CIV-PRR – SMPS. The electronic version is linked to an interactive map showing which provisions apply to East-West passenger traffic.
UIC Global Rail Freight Conference – GRFC 2014, 23-26. June, Vienna
01.06.2014
The central theme of the “GRFC 2014” is “Seamless Transport Chains through Harmonisation – Success Stories and Global Perspectives for Rail Freight”. It will offer a key opportunity to address all the strategic issues of rail freight development focusing on the management and harmonisation framework, new products and multimodal partnerships, international corridors, new technological trends…
The official Link: <http:www.grfc2014.com>
OTIF participation in the 155th session of the working group on common transit
05.05.2014
At the invitation of DG TAXUD, the head of OTIF’s legal service went to Brussels on 2 April 2014 to take part in the 155th session of the working group on common transit and simpli cation of formalities in trade in goods
Signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between the GCC and OTIF
20.03.2014
Signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF)
– Memorandum of Understanding OTIF – GCC (English)
– Memorandum of Understanding OTIF – GCC (Arabic)
OTIF’s attendance at the meetings of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)
15.03.2014
Teheran, 2-4 March 2014
The main topic was the container trains operating in the ECO Member States, namely Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Marrakesh International Seminar (March 2014)
10.03.2014
The need to renew and strenghten contacts between Marocco and OTIF
OTIF’s participation in the 21st Meeting of ECO
16.12.2013
The 21st Meeting of the Council of Ministers (COM) of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was held in Teheran on 26 November 2013.
Railway Days 2013 The Wider Black Sea Area (WBSA) Railway Investment Summit 8th session
04.11.2013
On 8 and 9 October 2013, the 8th session of the Wider Black Sea Area (WBSA) Railway Investment Summit took place in Bucharest (Romania). This meeting was organised by Club Ferroviar and the Romanian Railway Industry Association, under the aegis of CER, OTIF and UNIFE.
Administrative arrangements between OTIF – DG MOVE – ERA
31.10.2013
On 24 October 2013, OTIF signed administrative arrangements in Brussels with the European Commission’s Directorate -General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) and the European Railway Agency (ERA).
Administrative arrangements between OTIF – DG MOVE – ERA (English original)
– Exchange of correspondance (English translation)
– Correspondance (French original)
11th Turkish Transport Forum, Istanbul 5-7 September 2013
16.09.2013
Mr Carlos del Olmo, head of OTIF’s legal service, attends the 11th Turkish Tranport Forum
6th session of the OTIF Committee of Technical Experts (CTE)
14.06.2013
On the 12 June 2013, the OTIF Committee of Technical Experts (CTE) concluded a very successful 6th session
Secretary General’s visit to Turkey
31.05.2013
Turkey occupies a central place in traffic between Europe and Asia. For centuries, Turkey has been a hub for global trade.
New! The Young Experts Programme at OTIF
15.03.2013
OTIF has set up a programme for “young experts” to encourage highly qualified young professionals to discover the unique and exciting work of an international civil servant
General conditions for the “Young Experts” programme at OTIF
Accession of Pakistan to COTIF
25.02.2013
Uniform law for the carriage of freight in Pakistan, Iran and Turkey. On 21 February 2013, the Government of Pakistan deposited an application for accession to COTIF. The accession procedure should be concluded by September 2013. Pakistan will therefore become the 49th Member State of OTIF.
Pakistan’s accession is linked to the initiative by the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) to set up a rail link for trains carrying containers between Islamabad and Istanbul via Tehran, which might one day be extended to western Europe and southern Asia. Various auxiliary lines will link up with this corridor.
Invitation to tender for a functional and organisational Audit of OTIF
24.02.2013
The new Secretary General took up his duties on 1 January 2013 and the Organisation has set itself some new priorities. This new impetus must nevertheless be defined within the context of budgetary control.
It is therefore essential to assess properly the strengths and weaknesses of the Organisation’s human resources and the ability of the latter to be able to tackle the Organisation’s new challenges.
On 21 February 2013, OTIF’s Administrative Committee decided to endorse the terms of reference for an external audit to be carried out from May to June 2013 (Appendix – terms of reference).
The deadline for the submission of tenders is 22 March 2013.
If you have any further questions, please contact Mr Fabien Decker, OTIF’s head of administration and finance, at the following address: fabien.decker(at)otif.org