This Transport Group held a working seminar in Baku, Azerbaijan from 23 – 25 September 2014 on the development of Euro-Asian links by rail or with rail as a major component of the supply chain.
The potential and the role of countries covered by the various rail freight corridors were studied in depth for the transport of non-sensitive civil freight in terms of capacity, difficulties, and legal, administrative and technical issues…

On behalf of UIC, the Head of the UIC Security Division Jacques Colliard presented the ongoing work on this topic within the UIC Security Platform and in particular within the “Security – Border Crossing, International Railway Corridors” (BIRC) working group, its structure and its projects. The aim was to highlight the fact that reinforcing security policies and conditions along Euro-Asian corridors, in particular to Afghanistan, could improve rail service quality in this area.

The visit to Baku’s future freight and ferry port currently under construction (first phase scheduled to be completed at the end of 2015) was an illustration of Azerbaijan’s plans to develop its activities in the areas of land transport and maritime transport (via the Caspian Sea).

The next meeting of the BIRC working group is to be held from 6 – 7 October 2014 in London and Brussels.