Text 9: International Railway Organisations

Severe competition from other transport modes made railways establish international railway organisations. Their work is realized within the framework of several institutions.

The UIC or the International Union of Railways was founded in 1922. It promotes cooperation between railways at the world level and carries out activities to develop international rail transport. In order to reach understanding, the UIC has established standard railway terminology and international classification system of locomotives and railway carriages. The Soviet Union was among the founding members of the UIC in 1922. However, the Cold War made the USSR leave the UIC. Nowadays, a special working group has been set up to restart cooperation between JSC Russian Railways and the UIC.

The Community of European Railways and Infrastructure Companies brings together railway undertakings and infrastructure companies from the European Union, Norway, Switzerland and other states. It promotes modern environmentally friendly modes of rail transport systems.

The Union of the European Railway Industries is responsible for design, manufacture, maintenance and reconstruction of rail transport systems. Besides, there are some other interesting international alliances such as international air rail organisations. They develop, build and operate fast rail air links to passengers.

The European Conference of Ministers of Transport is an intergovernmental organisation established in October 1953. Russia joined the ECMT in 1997 and has been its active member ever since. Russian railways are a vital link for Eurasia from East to West, and North to South.

The Coordinating Council on Trans-Siberian Transportation (CCTT) is a non-commercial transport association. Its main purpose is to attract transit cargo to the Trans-Siberian route. Much work of Russian Railways takes place within the framework of the Organisation for Cooperation of Railway Lines (OSLD). Its main aim is to develop international transcontinental freight and passenger transport, and to create a common rail transport space in Eurasia.

Questions for discussion:

1. What made railways establish international railway organisations?
2. What did the UIC work out?
3. What does the UIC promote?
4. What does the Community of European Railways and Infrastructure Companies promote?
5. What does the International Rail Transport Committee implement?
6. What are the primary tasks of the Union of the European Railway Industries?
7. What are the international air rail organisations responsible for?
8. When was the European Conference of Ministers of Transport established?
9. Why are Russian railways important for Europe and Asia?
10. What is the main aim of OSLD?

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