STUDY OF COMPLIANCE REGARDING EU-RAILWAY LAW AND OSJD-RAILWAY LAW FOR EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR ENERGY AND TRANSPORT DIRECTORATE Dated 12 March 2007 Dr. Mansur Pour Rafsendjani and Christian-Thomas Stempfle NÖRR STIEFENHOFER LUTZ • Partnerschaft Brienner Straße 28 80333 München CONTENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY........................................................................................ 25 I. THE DEVELOPMENT AND UNIFICATION OF RAIL TRANSPORT LAW IN EUROPE ...........................................................................................................25 1. The Development of European Railway Transport Law..............................25 2. The Unification of EC Rail Transport Law.................................................25 II. The Organisation for co-operation of railways in Eastern Europe and Asia (OSJD) ..............................................................................................................26 1. The legal personality of the OSJD..............................................................26 2. The Bodies of the OSJD ............................................................................26 3. Resolutions of the OSJD............................................................................ 27 4. Jurisdiction of the OSJD............................................................................ 27 5. Common Railway Policy of the OSJD........................................................27 6. Strategic Objectives of the OSJD...............................................................28 7. Implementation of Transport Policy of the Member States of the OSJD......28 8. Railway corridors...................................................................................... 29 9. Consideration of EC Directives..................................................................29 10. The Influence of EC Transport Policy on the OSJD....................................29 11. Targets......................................................................................................30 12. Membership .............................................................................................. 30 III. The relevant EC legislation ................................................................................30 IV. The OTIF...........................................................................................................30 V. The OSJD agreements........................................................................................31 1. Convention of the OSJD (OSJD Statute 2002)............................................31 2. Agreement on International Passenger Transport (SMPS)...........................31 3. Agreement on International Railway Goods Transport (SMGS)..................31 4. Rules on the Use of Wagons (PPW with its Annex 1).................................32 5. International Passenger Tariff (MPT).........................................................32 6. Uniform Transit Tariff (ETT).....................................................................32 7. International Transit Tariff (MTT).............................................................32 8. Convention on the Use of uniform Containers (Container Agreement)........32 9. Agreement on Organisational and Operational Aspects of Combined Transport in the Communication between Europe and Asia (Agreement on Combined Transport).................................................................................32 VI. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS............................................................................33 1. Independence of the Railway Undertakings................................................33 2 Compliance Study - EC - OSJD .doc 1.1. Independence from the State..............................................................33 1.2. Separation of the Railway Undertakings from the Infrastructure Managers ..........................................................................................33 2. Restriction on State Aid and Guarantees ....................................................34 3. Interoperability.......................................................................................... 34 4. Access to the Railway Infrastructure for Independent Carriers....................37 5. Wagon usage in international Railway Transport........................................37 6. The Use of uniform Containers..................................................................37 7. Combined Transport.................................................................................. 38 8. Relations between Railways and Users.......................................................39 8.1. The Transport of Passengers..............................................................39 8.1.1. Concordant Basis: International transport..............................39 8.1.2. Exceptions from scope of application....................................39 8.1.3. Areas regulated ....................................................................39 8.1.4. Obligation to transport..........................................................39 8.1.5. Contract of carriage..............................................................39 8.1.6. Transport of Passengers and Luggage/ Express Goods...........39 8.1.7. Further specifics...................................................................40 8.1.8. Transport of Luggage ...........................................................40 8.1.9. Transport of Express Goods..................................................40 8.1.10. Transport Charges/Costs.......................................................40 8.1.11. Liability for Loss, Damage and Delay of Luggage.................41 8.1.12. Liability of the Carrier for Personal Injury and Damage to Hand Luggage ......................................................................42 8.1.13. The Passenger’s Rights and Obligations in Case of Delay, Cancellation, Missing Connection.........................................42 8.1.14. Joint Liability of Carriers .....................................................42 8.1.15. Liability of Agents ...............................................................43 8.1.16. Liability of Passengers .........................................................43 8.1.17. Extinction of Claims under the Conventions .........................43 8.1.18. Limitation of Claims ............................................................43 8.1.19. The Making of Claims..........................................................44 8.1.20. Court Jurisdiction.................................................................45 8.1.21. Accounting between the Railways/Carriers ...........................45 8.1.22. Recourse between the Railways/Carriers...............................45 8.1.23. Information Obligation.........................................................45 8.2. The Transport of Goods ....................................................................46 3 Compliance Study - EC - OSJD .doc 8.2.1. Contract of Carriage and Obligation to Transport..................46 8.2.2. Freight .................................................................................46 8.2.3. Payment of Costs..................................................................46 8.2.4. Conclusion of the Contract of Carriage .................................46 8.2.5. Acceptance of Goods for Transport.......................................46 8.2.6. Packaging, Marking, Sealing and Loading ............................47 8.2.7. Value and Interests in the Consignment ................................47 8.2.8. Accompanying Documents / Common Consignment Note.....47 8.2.9. Charging of Costs and Additional Charges............................48 8.2.10. Transit Periods .....................................................................48 8.2.11. Delivery of the Goods, Tracing.............................................48 8.2.12. Investigation ........................................................................49 8.2.13. Lien of the Railways.............................................................49 8.2.14. Amendment to the Contract of Carriage under the SMGS......50 8.2.15. Impediments to Transport and Delivery ................................50 8.2.16. Liability of the Railways ......................................................51 8.2.17. Relief from Liability.............................................................51 8.2.18. Burden of Proof....................................................................52 8.2.19. Amount of Compensation .....................................................53 8.2.20. Interest on Compensation .....................................................53 8.2.21. Complaints, Limitation of Claims .........................................53 (1) Complaints ..................................................................54 (2) Limitation....................................................................54 8.2.22. Accounting and Regress between the Railways .....................54 9. The Fixing of Tariffs ................................................................................. 55 REPORT...................................................................................................................56 A. TASK, PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE REPORT.......................................56 I. Introduction.......................................................................................................56 II. Task Specifications According to Annex A of the Contract TREN/CC/01-2005