OTIF is an intergovernmental organisation that works to develop unified railway law to connect Europe, Asia, and Africa through international rail transport. It aims to ensure technical and legal compatibility with the European market by coordinating regulations on international rail transport, dangerous goods carriage, and developing standard contracts. OTIF also partners with organizations like the EU, OSJD, and UNECE to facilitate cooperation and remove obstacles to international rail traffic.

1. OTIF
ORGANISATION INTERGOUVERNEMENTALE POUR LES TRANSPORTS INTERNATIONAUX
FERROVIAIRES
ZWISCHENSTAATLICHE ORGANISATION FÜR DEN INTERNATIONALEN
EISENBAHNVERKEHR
INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION FOR INTERNATIONAL CARRIAGE BY RAIL
OTIF:
Technical and legal
compatibility with the
European market
Secretary General of OTIF
François Davenne

2. OTIF2
The Organisation’s mission: Unified railway law to connect Europe,
Asia and Africa
OTIF
OSJD
OTIF & OSJD
OTIF &
EUOTIF & OSJD &
EU
GCC

3. OTIF3
UIC 1435mm and 1520/1524mm gauge (as at 01.05.2014)
1435mm gauge (UIC Standard gauge) 1520/1524mm gauge Others or multiple
gauge widths
Multiple gauge widths including 1435mm gauge

4. OTIF4
The Staff
• Legal
department: 3
experts
responsible for
private law
issues
• Technical
department: 3
experts
responsible for
implementing
uniform
prescriptions
compatible with
EU law.
• RID department:
2 experts
coordinating
regulations on
the international
carriage of
dangerous goods
Secretariat – Organigram
Applicable from 14/04/2014
Communication
N
S.Flûckiger (CH) Communication/Press
A.Elkaroubi (MA) – Young expert
Management
F.Davenne Secretary General (F)
C.Del Olmo Counsellor(E)
ExecutiveSecretariat :
F.Jäggi (CH) –IT/Protocol
Translation
D.Ashman (GB)
J.Meenken (D)
E.Croner (F)
Administration and Finances
C.Nébati (F)
S.Burri (CH) Accounts/Building
F.Jäggi (CH)–IT/Protocol
R.Waber-Niederhauser (CH) - HR
V.Smiljanić (CH) Secretariat /supportIT/Website
E.Kabamba (CH) Secretariat/Travel
Dangerous Goods
J.Conrad (D)
K.Guricová (SK)
Railway Technology
B.Leermakers (NL)
P.Sorger (SK)
D.Nesic (SRB)
J.Hampl (CZ) –Youngexpert
Law
C.Del Olmo (E)
E.Hammerschmiedová(CZ)
I.P.Gries (F)
D.Galushko (UA) –Young
expert

5. OTIF5
The partnerships
•Third circle: Professional and user
associations in the rail sector
•Fourth circle: Professional
associations outside the rail sector
•Second circle: preferred partners•First circle: Member States and/or
member cooperation organisations of
OTIF
Member States
EU
Member States
EU
International organisations
(OSJD,UNECE...)
ERA
CIT
International organisations
(OSJD,UNECE...)
ERA
CIT
CER
Railnet Europe
UNIFE
UIP
Dangerous goods industry
CER
Railnet Europe
UNIFE
UIP
Dangerous goods industry
WCO
ITJ
FIATA
WCO
ITJ
FIATA
OTIFOTIF

6. OTIF6
The Tasks
• CIM/CIV/CUV/CUI : Developing standard contracts to help define liability
regimes for:
- Passengers;
- Freight;
- Use of Vehicles;
- Use of the Infrastructure.
These Uniform Rules are developed with CIT, UIP, UIC, OSJD and UNECE
• ATMF/UTP: Ensuring technical compatibility for rolling stock with CER, EU,
ERA and UIC
• RID department: coordinating regulations on the international carriage of
dangerous goods with EU, OSJD and UNECE (ADR/ADN).
=> a coordination and interfacing role

7. OTIF7
One geographical vision: a unified legal framework
• The Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail offers all States and regional
economic integration organisations a "neutral" legal framework.
• The Gulf Cooperation Council has recently signed a MOU with OTIF.
• Common approaches will facilitate cooperation, investments and operations.
• Development of "interface law« .
• Framework providing legal and geographical flexibility centred on the European market
place.
OTIF
OSJD
OTIF & OSJD
OTIF &
EUOTIF & OSJD &
EU
GCC

8. OTIF8
The specific characteristics of OTIF
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.

9. OTIF9
An example : developing uniform freight contracts for Eurasia
OTIF OSJD
CIM:
Regulatory model
contract
Contractofcarriage/
Consignmentnote
Detailed provisions
developed
by the sector
Detailed provisions
established
through regulations
Regulatory model
contract
CIT
SMGS
How to develop a
contract of carriage
/ a single
consignment note?
UNECE
OTIF/OSJD
Common annex:
Regulatory model contract
Eurasian

10. OTIF10
Maritime lines to develop the railways’ hinterland: The
example of CIM lines in the Baltic Sea

11. OTIF11
CIM lines in Mediterranean sea : Europe as hinterland

12. OTIF12
Removing obstacles to international traffic
• Freight transport by rail is the most appropriate way to carry goods over a long
distance. However, many obstacles hinder the proper functioning of international rail
transport:
• These obstacles must be overcome for the railways to deliver goods in a transparent,
economical, fast and secure manner.
=> To this end, OTIF considers that obstacles should be listed through the study
of 3 corridors:
1. A corridor for land transport only between Russia/China and Germany
2. A corridor passing through Turkey – with an intermodal part on the Black Sea –
as an attempt to carry goods by train from Pakistan to Europe, via Iran
3. A Euro-Maghreb corridor between Tunisia and Morocco, crossing Algeria, with
possible links to EU corridors and reaching Northern
European markets via the Iberian Peninsula.

13. OTIF13
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.
=> OTIF provides a level playing field for freight by rail

14. OTIF14
The administrative arrangements between
ERA/Commission/OTIF of 24 October 2013
• ERA is developing safety and interoperability concepts under the control of
the EU Member States and the Commission.
• Definition of common priorities:
– a road map for the transposition of the technical specifications for
interoperability;
– setting up effective working relations;
– prior involvement of the States parties that are not EU members;
– cooperation on registers.
=> Involvement of the non Member States of the EU for a uniform
technical environment.

15. OTIF15
A road map towards interoperability
Exchange of vehicles InteroperabilityExchange of vehicles Interoperability
OTIF to assist with legal and technical
implementation where requested
OTIF to assist with legal and technical
implementation where requested
2009
2015
2017
2020
2013

16. OTIF1616
Verification Admission Operation
Main actors for verification, admission and operation

17. OTIF17
Principles of the relationship between OTIF and the
Commission/ERA
• Regular management level meetings
• Organisation of joint workshops: first workshop organised in Bonn on 6
February 2014 on the inter-vehicle interfaces for passenger coaches
• Put in place a procedure for the consultation and participation of non EU
Member States in ERA's work
• Agreement on coordinating the vehicle registers and exchanges of
information.
=> Ensure total compatibility and a broader vision

18. OTIF
ORGANISATION INTERGOUVERNEMENTALE POUR LES TRANSPORTS INTERNATIONAUX
FERROVIAIRES
ZWISCHENSTAATLICHE ORGANISATION FÜR DEN INTERNATIONALEN
EISENBAHNVERKEHR
INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION FOR INTERNATIONAL CARRIAGE BY RAIL
Thank you
for your attention
Secretary General of OTIF
François Davenne