united nations economic commission for europe (unece)

UNECE Transport Division

UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE

(UNECE)

International Union of Railways (UIC)26 April 2010

SIAFInternational Interactive Session

on International Railway Activities

Railway Cooperation:The role of UNECE

Martin M. Magold

Sustainable Transport Section

Transport Division


UNECE: Role and functions5 UN Regional Commissions

2

ECE

ECLAC

ECAESCAP

ESCWA


UNECE: Role and functionsFeatures

• Regional arm of the United Nations • Inter-governmental organization• Cooperation with NGO’s and private sector• Areas of work:

– Trade facilitation and statistics– Regional cooperation and integration– Energy– Environment– Transport (road, rail, inland water)

3


UNECE: Role and functionsGovernmental Structure

4

Working Party onRail Transport (SC.2)

Inland Transport Committee

Working Party onIntermodal Transport and Logistics (WP.24)

EC, OTIF, OSJD, UIC,CIT, ERA …

EC, OTIF, UIC, CIT, UIRR, EIA, BIC, IRU,

IMMTA …


UNECE: Role and functionsHow do we work ?

• Work procedures – Multilateral treaties

• (conventions, agreements, protocols, etc.)

– Resolutions, recommendations and model actions• (soft law, guidelines, etc.)

– Exchange of best practices and peer reviews

• (Governments, industry, civil society)

– Technical cooperation and capacity building• (Projects, seminars, workshops, etc.)

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E2

Green Card Motor Vehicle Insurance System

International Driving LicenceVienna Convention

UNECE: Role and functionsExamples of activities

CMR Convention

Transport of dangerous goods

World Forum for Harmonization

of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29)

Customs transit systemEuropean E-Roads

Vienna Convention


International Rail CooperationMultilateral treaties

• Transport of dangerous goods (RID)• Pan-European rail infrastructure network

(AGC)• Pan-European combined transport services

(AGTC)• Harmonization of border controls (interoperability)

• Unification of international rail transport law (under preparation)

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International Rail CooperationTransport of dangerous goods

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ECOSOCCommittee of Experts TDG and GHS

GHS Sub-Committee

GHSUN Model Regulations

TDG Sub-Committee

National legislation

European UnionDirective 2008/68/EC

Inland transportUNECE

ADR

Air ICAO

SeaIMDGIMO

Currently implemented

worldwide

IAEA Radioactive

RID ADN

UNECE secretariat

COTIF Appendix C


International Rail CooperationTransport of dangerous goods

Road: ADR (46 States)

In force since 1968

Rail: RID* (43 States)

In force since 2009

* In cooperation with OCTI

Waterways: ADN (12 States)

In force since 2008


International Rail Cooperation Rail and combined transport networks (AGC+AGTC)

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International Rail Cooperation Rail and combined transport networks (AGC+AGTC)

AGC/AGTC Minimum Standards and Target Values

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AGC/AGTC Standard AGC/AGTC Target Value

Existing railway lines New railway lines

Infrastructure Parameters for Railway Lines (AGC Annex II - AGTC Annex III) 1 Number of tracks Not specified 2 2 Loading gauge of vehicles UIC B UIC C 1 3 Minimum distance between track

centres 4.0 m 4.2 m

4 Nominal minimum speed

160km/h (AGC) 120km/h (AGTC)

250 / 300 km/h (AGC) 120 km/h (AGTC)

Locomotives 22.5 t (AGC) 22.5 t (AGC) Rail cars and rail motor sets

17 t (AGC) 17 t (AGC)

Carriages 16 t (AGC) 16 t (AGC)

5

Au

tho

rize

d

ma

ss

pe

r a

xle

Wagons 18 t /20 t /20 t (AGC) 20 t /22.5 t (AGTC)

18 t / 20 t / 22.5 t (AGC) 20 t / 22.5 t (AGTC)

6 Authorized mass per linear meter j/ 8 t (AGC) 8 t (AGC) 7 Test train (bridge design) UIC 71 (AGC) UIC 71 (AGC) 8

Maximum gradient k/ Not specified AGC (12.5 / 35 mm/m) AGTC (12.5 mm/m)

9 Min. platform length in stations 400 m (AGC) 400 m (AGC) 10 Minimum useful siding length 750 m 750 m 11 Level crossings None (AGC) None (AGC) 12 Capacity bottlenecks g Seldom ( AGTC) Seldom (AGTC)


International Rail Cooperation Combined transport network (AGTC)

AGTC Minimum Standards and Target Values

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AGTC Standard AGTC Target Value

Existing railway lines New railway lines Performance Parameters of Combined Transport Trains (AGTC - Annex IV)

13 Maximum authorized length of train 750 m 14 Maximum authorized weight of train 1,500 t

15 Maximum authorized axle load of wagon

20 t (22.5 t at 100 km/h)

16 Operating speed 120 km/h 17 Priority rating High 18 Direct (block) trains or wagon groups Often

Minimum Standards for Terminals (AGTC - Annex IV) 19 Average time for formation of trains Max. 60 min. 20 Average waiting time for lorries Max. 20 min. 21 Accessibility by road Good 22 Accessibility by rail Good 23 Capacity bottlenecks Seldom

Minimum Standards for Border Crossing Points (AGTC - Annex IV) 24 Maximum average length of stop No stop or 30 minutes max. 25 Joint border station Yes

Standards for Axle Gauge Interchange Stations (AGTC Minimum - Annex IV) 26 Duration of interchange As short as possible

Standards for Ferry links /Ports (AGTC - Annex IV) 27 Average duration of ro-ro operation As short as possible, but 60 minutes max. 28 Ferry/rail timetable co-ordinated Yes


International Rail Cooperation Monitoring of AGC+AGTC standards

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Railway Line C-E 20: Dover (UK) – Vostochnaya (RF)

AGTC standard: Authorized length of train: min. 750 m

Example750 m


International Rail CooperationHarmonization of border controls (interoperability)

International Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods (1982)

• Inter-governmental framework for border controls– National coordination and cooperation

– International coordination and cooperation – All border control agencies– All modes of land transport (road, rail, IWT)

• 54 Contracting States, incl. EU

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• 8 Annexes in force– Customs controls, – medico-sanitary, veterinary phytosanitary inspections,– control of compliance of quality and technical standards for

cargo– transit arrangements – Road transport (visa, technical inspection, etc.) (since 2008)

• 1 Annex on rail transport (under consideration)

– Adoption in 2010 ? - Entry into force in 2011 ?

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Draft Annex on rail transport• Visa procedures (train crews, border personnel, etc.)• Border and control infrastructure and facilities• Cooperation of inspection personnel• Coordinated inspection mechanisms• Acceptable time limits and delays• Documentation (incl. CIM/SMGS consignment note)

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18

Effects of the 2006 agreement between Bulgaria and Serbia on railway border control proceduresTime in minutes (Dimitrovgrad, Serbia - Dragoman, Bulgaria)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

Freight trains Passenger trains

Before

After

Bulgaria-Serbia: Rail Border Agreement (2006)

(Dimitrovgrad-Dragoman) Border delay (minutes)


International Rail CooperationUniform rail transport law

SMGS/SMPSSMGS/SMPS

COTIFCOTIF

Eurasian uniform Rail Transport LawEurasian uniform Rail Transport Law


International Rail Cooperation Uniform rail transport law

CIM

• Consensual contract

• Contractual freedom

• Consignment note in the competence of RUs

• Joint + several liability

SMGS

• Formal contract• Obligation to establish

tariffs and to carry• Consignment note

regulated in SMGS

• Singular liability

Differences in international rail transport law


International Rail Cooperation Uniform rail transport law

OTIFIntergovernmental Organization

for International Carriageof Rail

• Bern• Since 1890• 42 member States• only States• Decisions: Majority

• German/French/English

OSJDOrganization for Co-operation

between Railways

• Warsaw• Since 1956• 27 member States• States and railways• Decisions: Unanimity• Russian and Chinese

Differences in institutional arrangements



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• 2005: UNECE Working Party on Intermodal Transport and Logistics (WP.24) – Strategic elements for efficient East-West rail transport

• 2006: UNECE Inland Transport Committee (ITC)– Remove obstacles for pan-European rail interoperability– Establish level playing field on East-West rail corridors– Initiate discussions/negotiations towards unfied rail law– Support CIT/OSJD on CIM/SMGS consignment note as short term

measure

• 2010: UNECE Expert Group on Unified Railway Law– 1. session: Geneva, 26 March 2010

• Harmonized operational rules (infrastructure access, cross-acceptance) • Harmonized civil liability rules (railways-shippers-freight forwarders)

– 2. session: St. Petersburg, 8 July 2010• Concept note by 2011



• Land bridge between Europe and Asia (Mongolia-China-Pakistan)

• Rail link Istanbul-Tehran-Almaty

• Transit via Mongolia

• Rail corridors to Central Asia (Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan)

• Trans-Siberian railway line

• North-South rail corridors via Russian Federation

UNECE supports CIT and OSJD on use of CIM/SMGS consignment note

as short-term measure


International Rail Cooperation Technical cooperation

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International Rail CooperationTechnical cooperation

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Objectives of TER• Coherent and efficient rail and combined transport

system in TER region• Improved efficiency and quality of rail services• Improved environmental foot-print

Outputs• TER Master Plan

– identification of backbone network– investment priorities– inventory of border-crossing problems– Recommendations

• Capacity building activities


International Rail CooperationCapacity building

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Peer Reviews• Government to Government• Objective:

– Improve policy making– Review administrative procedures– Adopt best practices– Establish high policy standards– Support compliance measures

• UNECE acts as facilitator


United Nations Economic Commission for EuropeObjectives and mission

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• UNECE objectives– Inland transport (road, rail, inland water transport)– Facilitate international movement of persons and goods– Improve safety, environmental protection, energy efficiency and

security– Contribute to sustainable development

• UNECE mission– Bridge between EU and «other» Europe, Central Asia + Caucasus– Link-up with other regions as part of UN (Regional Commissions)– Set up harmonied global and/or pan-European framework

conditions and standards for Governments and industry– Provide platform for exchange of policies and best practices– Assist in capacity building for «transition» economies – Ensure level playing field among land transport modes


United Nations United Nations Economic Commission for EuropeEconomic Commission for Europe

(UNECE) (UNECE)

Palais des Nations, Geneva (Switzerland)

united nations economic commission for europe (unece)

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