The 18th session of the Coordinating Council on Transsiberian Transportation (CCTT) was held in Munich, Germany, on 28 and 29 September.

The CCTT is an international non-profit transport association, which focuses on improving the competitiveness of Trans-Siberian freight transit, as well as freight on the sea section of the Trans-Siberian route.

UIC was represented by Oliver Sellnick, UIC Director of Railway Undertakings Department who explained to the audience how UIC is supporting the intercontinental traffic between Europe and Asia.

Boris Lapidus, Senior Vice President of RZD, who led the Russian company’s delegation, made a presentation on the issue of the decline in the volume of freight on the global transport market, and called for the Trans-Siberian network’s potential to be more effectively used to overcome this problem.
Mr Lapidus also reiterated that all concessionary tariffs applicable in 2008 will remain in place throughout 2009, despite the economic crisis.

“Tariff regulation measures in container freight must improve its competitiveness, relative both to alternative forms of transport and to alternative routes”, Boris Lapidus said.

Participants also agreed that interaction between the railway network, shipping companies, ports, state bodies involved in the regulation of the transport process, and forwarding, insurance, and telecommunications companies, is an essential precondition for overcoming the current global crisis and its consequences. The Coordinating Council on Transsiberian Transportation is a consolidating platform for such cooperation.