UIC attends and assists ERA-OSJD Contact Group meeting

The 55th meeting of the ERA-OSJD Contact Group on the analysis of EU and non-EU interlinked rail systems was held from 5 to 7 October 2020 via web conference.

The meeting was attended by representatives from OSJD member states (Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russian Federation, Slovakia and Ukraine) and representatives of the OSJD Committee, the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA), the EC General Directorate for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE), the International Union of Railways (UIC) and RailNetEurope (RNE).

ERA-OSJD analysis of interlinked rail systems

ERA, OSJD and UIC experts attended the ERA/OSJD Contact Group meeting.

On behalf of Mr François Davenne, UIC Director General, the UIC delegation expressed its commitment to the strategic visions of the organisations to be shared and coordinated within both frameworks of high-level technical regulations – EU (Directives & TSIs) and EEU (Regulations & GOSTs) – where UIC expertise and contributions are required in relation to UIC Leaflets and IRSs.

The meeting adopted the agenda and discussed the following items:

• Updating the analysis of the subsystems “Locomotives and multiple units rolling stock (LOC)” and “Passenger cars (PASS)”
• Updating the analysis of the subsystem “Energy supply (ENE)”
• Analysis of the parameters of the subsystem “Telematic applications for freight service (TAF)”
• Exchange on practical experience and coordination of provisions for the existing technical and operational compatibility on EU/non-EU borders to be kept and improved

Following the ERA proposal, the analysis scope of the LOC & PASS subsystems had been improved, becoming more clearly defined and optimised thanks to a new draft template for the technical parameters to be analysed. It was decided to retain the dynamic template as it could be easily modified when required.

Analysis of the ENE subsystem had been complemented with additional elements linked to the conformity assessment of the subsystem and a comparison of the approaches stipulated by the “Energy supply” TSI and those applicable in Russia and Ukraine.

During the analysis of the TAF document, representatives of RailNetEurope and ERA stressed the need to compare practical examples of messages, including some new results and their further development.

During the discussions, UIC Leaflets or/and ERA Technical Documents (elaborated and based on UIC Leaflets) were addressed and referenced within the analyses above.

The next ERA-OSJD meeting is scheduled for 23 to 25 March 2021, with the provisional location of Lille/Valenciennes, France.