Sandeep Raj Jain

Economic Affairs Officer

Transport Facilitation & Logistics Section

Transport Division

ESCAP Regional Cooperation Framework

for

Facilitation of International Railway Transport

Outline

Why do we need a Regional Cooperation Framework for Facilitation of International Railway Transport?

What is the Regional Cooperation Framework?

How will Framework promote railway transport?

• Border crossing study

• Common minimum standards for operational and technical parameters

1. WHY do we need a Framework

Rapidly increasing inter-regional trade

Growing importance of sustainable transport

Entry into force of an intergovernmental agreement on Trans-Asian Railway Network in 2009

Increasing importance of inter-modal transport with focus of modal complementary rather on modal competition

2. What is Regional Cooperation Framework for Facilitation of

International Railway Transport

Identifies four fundamental issues for facilitation of international railway transport, indicates target and process

Provides for eleven areas among member countries to further railway transport in the region

A. Four fundamental issues

1. Standards for railway infrastructure, facilities and equipment

Need to standardise rolling stock

specifications, braking systems, signalling systems, axle weight, clearance space of structures (tunnels, bridges, railway stations)

Common/minimum standards

Working group, UIC, railway research facilities and studies

2. Break of gauge

16,524, 16%

40,707, 39%

33784, 32%

4035, 4% 9882, 9%

TARN route length

1

2

3

4

5

4 major gauges 1676 mm 1520mm 1435mm and 1000mm

Significant reduction by developing streamlined operating procedures

Happens mostly at borders, possible ways to deal with: Transhipment; Bogie changing; Variable gauge bogie; Laying additional railway line; ESCAP efficient cross border transport model

3.Different legal regimes for railway transport contracts

No single intergovernmental organization for railway transport; OSJD and OTIF have different consignment notes SMGS and CIM; re-consignment along Euro-Asian routes led to errors, long delays

Alignment to common consignment note developed in 2006

Gradual alignment

4. Coordination of regulatory controls and inspections at border-interchange stations

Trains are subjected to numerous controls such as customs, immigration, security, sanitary checks, in addition there is also locomotive and crew change, technical inspection of train

High degree of coordination among border agencies

Establish standard time for regulatory control; use new technologies; undertake check only at origin/destination

B. Areas for cooperation among the member countries for the facilitation of international railway transport

1. Participate in international railway organizations

Two major organisation OSJD and OTIF

Both have wide experience in promotion of international railway transport

Presently among 28 member of TAR 13 are members of OSJD and 6 of OTIF- 3 countries are members of both

2. Formulate subregional and bilateral agreements

Mostly in South Asia and South-East Asia

ECO TTFA– Annex III provides for minimum technical characteristics for railway transport

Protocol 6 on Railway Border and Interchange stations to ASEAN Framework Agreement on Facilitation of goods in Transit

3. Collaborate to standardise cross-border railway operations Railway systems developed independently; acquired

different rolling stock and operational systems– interoperability a challenge

Network of experts on railway transport for Asia and Pacific to share knowledge, discuss on common challenges in standardisation of railway operations and way forward

4. Use of advance cargo information systems Major delay at the border crossing takes place due to

time involved to complete regulatory controls

Advanced or prior intimation can reduce delays

Adoption of common standards for sharing of information

5. Arrangement for exchange of wagons Common contract on the use of wagons in

international railway transport can obviate the need for multiples bilateral arrangements and increase supply of wagons

The contract can cover

Requirements for technical admission and maintenance of wagons

Obligations and rights of accepting railway including right of refusal

Procedure for ascertainment and damage to wagons

Liability for loss or damage to wagons

6. Use of new technologies in train operations as well as in container tracking Use of SPS, RFID, CCS already being used in train

operations needs to be promoted– emerging technologies such as cloud computing, big data

Tracing and tracking of containers by train operators to schedule container block train, increase asset utilization, reduce dwell time and overheads

7. Develop human resources for cross-border railway operations Streamlined procedures for visa for drivers/crew

Common system for training of drivers will help among others in drivers being knowledgeable about the route, speed restrictions, signalling system

Accreditation of training institutes

Regulation of the service conditions for the railway officials

8. Establish logistics centres/dry ports and maintenance hubs at or near the border inter-change stations

Railways offer lower cost over long distance; to exploit this advantage establish such centres to consolidate LCL cargo

Arrangements for joint controls and inspection can also be contemplated if warranted by high volume of traffic

Develop maintenance hubs to reduce delays due to breakdown of rolling stock

9. Simplify intermodal interface of railway with other modes of transport Railways will be part of and integrated with other

modes

Simplify intermodal interfaces that happens at the gateway ports to minimise time

Specially important for LLDCs as substantial time is consumed in completing transit formalities

Increase reliability of train operations and optimal utilisation of rolling stock

10. Promote and encourage corridor approach in facilitation of international railway transport Around the globe most international traffic on specific

railways corridors

Many organisations have developed corridors ECO, OSJD, European Commission , UN EATL

Stringent technical and operational requirements call for more collaboration and corridor approach makes possible to bring stakeholders together

11. Work towards paperless railway freight transport Paper documents pose costly and serious limitation for

development of railway freight

Increase speed and reliability of railway transport by rapid exchange of information, avoid duplication and related errors

Efforts at international level include a joint UIC-CIT project on e-Railway Freight has developed a electronic consignment note

3. HOW is framework promoting railway transport

Implement projects to facilitate international railway transport

Harmonization of rules and regulations for facilitation of international railway transport- two studies

Compendium on good practices for border crossing by railways

Recommendations on common and minimum standards for operational and technical parameters

By supporting countries in undertaking studies/reports indicated under the framework

Recommendations on common standards for technical and operational standards Interoperability in railways Three components of railway interoperability

• Legal interoperability- unified contractual obligations vis-a-vis customers from origin to destination

• Technical interoperability- common technical parameters of railways infrastructure and rolling stock

• Operational interoperability- harmonized operational practices over an entire international route

Levels of technical interoperability

• Level A: Neither wagons nor locomotive can cross the borders implies transshipment

• Level B: Only wagons can cross

• Level C: Both wagons and locomotives can cross the borders – highest level of operability

Interoperability in railways

Modes of Border crossings

• Mode 1: No stoppage of trains at the border crossings- the formalities are completed at the agreed designated stations in parallel with operational procedures for traffic management

• Mode 2: Countries agree to designate a single border station in either country for completing border crossing formalities in parallel

• Mode 3: Each country completes border crossing formalities in their own territory

Based on modes of border crossings and levels of interoperability SIX arrangements are possible

Border crossing arrangements

Border crossing arrangements

Interoperability along the railway corridor

Interoperability along railway corridors

Technical parameters for railway interoperability

For level B

• Axle load

• Structure gauge

• Passing siding length ( for single track operations)

For level C

• Signaling

• Traffic management

• Telecommunications

• Traction systems

For railway Infrastructure

For rolling stock For level B

• Loading gauge

• Maximum train length

• Coupling systems

• Braking system

• Rail-wheel parameters

For level C

• Types of locomotives

• Locomotive power

• Maximum speed

Common operational parameters for railway interoperability For railways and for other border agencies

For level A

• Harmonized time tables

• Information exchanges for management of corridor

• Single tariff for Origin to Destination

For level B

• Train composition

• Maintenance of wagons

• Breakdown of wagons

• Handling and inspection of hazardous material

For level C

• Management of traffic including rules for communication and language

• Training of drivers along the route

Huge potential for railway freight

COST

TIME

AIR

SEA

RAILWAY

Thank you

for

your attention

Questions/Comments?

jain@un.org