INTERNATIONAL: China, Germany, The Netherlands and Togo have now signed the United Nations Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Rail, which aims to eliminate rail’s competitive disadvantage for the transport of freight between Europe and Asia.
The Convention was adopted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Working Party on Rail Transport in November 2023 and is open for accession by all UN members. It will enter into force six months after approval by five states; UNECE said many countries have expressed interest.
UNECE said rail had historically been at a disadvantage compared to other modes for freight transport between China and Europe as it is governed by two international legal regimes, the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) CIM which has its origins in western Europe, and the Organisation for Co-operation Between Railways’ (OSJD) SGMS in eastern Europe and Asia.
The UN Convention enables the application of a single legal regime bridging the two existing systems where neither covers the full route. It will co-exist with the two existing regimes, which will remain applicable within their respective areas.
UNECE said the Convention’s entry into force would strengthen climate action in the freight transport sector, encouraging the use of rail which has greenhouse gas emission 5·7 times lower than road per tonne-km.
