COTIFAbkommen

COTIFAbkommen, or the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail, is the treaty that governs international rail transport and the statutory framework for the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF). It provides the normative basis for cross-border rail services and the cooperation between contracting states.

The agreement was concluded in 1980 in Vienna and entered into force in 1982. It established OTIF to coordinate the application of uniform rules and to promote safe and efficient rail transport across participating countries. Over time, the COTIFAbkommen has been amended by protocols to adapt to changes in international rail operations, including updates to the uniform rules that regulate cross-border carriage.

Core provisions of COTIFAbkommen are implemented through the Uniform Rules for International Carriage by Rail and related instruments. These include rules for the international carriage of goods by rail (CIM) and the contract of use of railway vehicles in international transport (CUV), as well as appendices that cover passenger transport and other operational aspects. The rules address contracts of carriage, liability regimes, documentation, and procedures for international operations. The framework also encompasses safety, insurance, and dispute settlement mechanisms.

OTIF comprises member states and, in some cases, intergovernmental organizations. The COTIF-Abkommen sets governance structures, membership conditions, and meeting procedures for OTIF. It thus connects a variety of rail systems and administrations, enabling cross-border services and harmonized rules, while allowing certain corridors to apply different rule sets (such as CIM or SMGS) as appropriate.

In the modern era, COTIFAbkommen remains a stable basis for international rail traffic, while undergoing modernization to accommodate digitalisation and greater interoperability of documents and systems.