The agenda included the following issues:

- Consideration of the Commission's working results in 2014 by the following subjects:

• Improvement of the Agreement on Uniform Transit Tariff (ETT) and the ETT alone;
• Improvement of the Agreement on International Transit Tariff (MTT) and the MTT alone;
• Improvement of the Agreement on PGW, modifications and amendments to the Rules for the Use of Freight Wagons in International Traffic (PGW), works aimed at PGW revision;
• Improvement and updating of Harmonised Commodity Code (GNG);
• Creation of the list of freight stations of the OSJD railways;
• Organization of large-container traffic in communication between Europe and Asia;
• Works aimed at the organization of freight traffic under application of unified CIM/SMGS consignment note;
• Works aimed at implementation of UNESCAP/OSJD joint projects;
• Coordination of timetables for freight trains of OSJD railways in international traffic;
• Coordination by the concerned OSJD railways of the freight transportation volumes in international traffic;
• Issues relating to competitiveness and marketing.

Coordinated have been drafts of the Report on the "Working results of the OSJD Commission on Freight Traffic for 2014" and the Commission’s Plan of Work for 2015, as well as prepared has been the draft decision of the XXX-th CGD meeting in the field of freight traffic.

The meeting participants listened to the information on the works which are carried out by the Parties to the Agreement on Uniform Transit Tariff (ETT) about the improvement of ETT Agreement and ETT alone and the Parties to the Agreement on International Transit Tariff (MTT) about the improvement of MTT Agreement and MTT alone (more details in OSJD Bulletin 4-5/2014, p. 40-42).

The subject "Improvement of the Agreement on the Rules for the Use of Freight Wagons (PGW), modification and amendment of the Rules for the Use of Freight Wagons (PGW) in International Traffic was considered by the Parties of the Contract at meetings of agents of the Parties to the PGW Agreement and AWG on PGW Revision. Following the results of the performed works, annexes to the actual PGW have been updated and put into effect since October 1, 2014.

Discussion on some individual issues relating to the new edition of the PGW Agreement was carried out. A detailed list of questions requiring further study has been composed.

As a result of the performed meetings of AWG on PGW Revision:

• draft new version of PGW structure has been detailed;

• continued has been the work regarding the terminology used in the draft new PGW version;

• completed has been the development of the main text of all chapters of the new PGW version in accordance with the agreed PGW structure and taking into consideration new terminology;

• continued has been revision of PGW annexes, among others new versions of the following annexes have been coordinated:

• Annex 1 to PGW “Technical requirements as to the freight wagons in international traffic”;
• Annex 3 “Wagon sheet” and Annex 3.1 “Procedure for filling-in wagon sheet in accordance with Annex 3 to PGW”;
• Annex 3а “Wagon sheet” (for railway-ferry traffic) and Annex 3.1а “Procedure for filling-in wagon sheet in accordance with Annex 3a to PGW”;
  • Annex 13а “Prices of wagons and bogies”;
  • Annex 34 “List of tariff rates”;
  • Annex 45 “Procedure for calculating tariff rates for the use of wagons, bogies and wagons without bogies”. At the same time a clause has been coordinated, stating that payment for the use of wagons with 8 and more axles is calculated by the tariff rates, set by the wagons’ owner, and a decision was taken to exclude in the text of Annex 45 the words “8-axle” and the corresponding columns;
  • structure of a new Annex 7-И to PGW “Addresses of the bodies of the parties to the PGW Agreement” on the basis of acting Annexes 7 and 7а has been developed;
  • draft new Annex В has been developed “Calculation of reimbursement rates for the wagon loss”;
  • developed and preliminarily coordinated have been proposals for the procedure of modifying the PGW Agreement.

The meeting participants have proposed that the parties to the PGW Agreement inform the business representatives – owners of freight wagons and carriers of their countries - potential participants of the PGW Agreement on the PGW revision results and kindly requested them to provide proposals on the this issue to their Party to the Agreement.

On May 21, 2014, the UIC headquarters in Paris hosted the joint OSJD/UIC workshop on the subject “Practical application of the Rules for the Use of Freight Wagons in International Traffic”.

During the workshop the main direction of the use of freight wagons in international traffic have been discussed:

• regulatory activity – development of rules and technical requirements;

• technical and operational issues;

• financial issues;

• availability and possibilities to create electronic data bases.

The workshop participants have recognized, that the performed exchange of gained experiences, opinions and prospects for the future development of legal basis, stipulating the procedure for transmission and usage of wagons is extremely useful, providing proper mutual understanding.

The subject “Improvement and updating of GNG” was considered at the meeting of the representatives of OSJD railways (25-28.03.2014, Riga, Latvia) attended by the experts of PWG CI and by the invited President of the UIC Steering Committee on NHM/DIUM issues. The meeting on GNG discussed proposals and remarks of the OSJD railways in regard to the provision of GNG harmonization with the Nomenclature Harmonisée Marchandises (NHM) in 2014 version, being in effect in Europe (UIC performs annually NHM updating on the basis of the changes and amendments introduced into the Combined Nomenclature of the European Customs Union - CN). The agreed changes and amendments into GNG were approved by CGD meeting XXIX and have come into effect since June 1^st, 2014. The updated GNG text as of June 1, 2014 was published; its master was prepared the leading GNG duty holder in OSJD - RZD JSC.

The abovementioned meeting also discussed the subject “Creation of the list of freight stations of OSJD railways”. For primary filling-in of the List information was provided from the railways of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Hungary (MAV Zrt., GySEV CJSC, Rail Cargo Hungaria CJSC), Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland (PKP JSC, PKP Cargo JSC, PKP LHS JSC), Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine and Estonia. The presented data have been placed on OSJD Website.

Experts of the Commission with participation of PRK CI specialists have completed Leaflet O 405 "Regulations on creation and support of the List of freight stations of the OSJD railways" and prepared the updated draft text of the Leaflet in the form of the II-nd edition. This draft text was approved by CGD meeting XXIX and has come into effect since June 1, 2014.

Experts of the Commission supported the proposal regarding possible development by the OSJD affiliated enterprise – CTM JSC – an OSJD product, in particular - electronic program reference and information system, which makes it possible to search data on the basis of any requisite, including by the name of railway, station, station code, as well as by cargo operations made at stations.

By the discussion of the subject “Organisation of large-container traffic in communication between Europe and Asia”, which was discussed earlier at the Commission’s expert meeting (1-4.07.2014, OSJD Committee, Warsaw), it was noted, that the main cargo flow and container trains’ traffic passes through the networks of Chinese Railways.

At present container and contrailer trains are organized and run along 231 routes of OSJD railways on a permanent basis, and on a stand-by are 199 trains. The actual information on the container trains and combined transportation on the OSJD railways has been published in the "OSJD Bulletin" journal (Zeitschrift der OSShD) No. 6/2014 and placed on OSJD Web site.

На совещании была заслушана информация представителей железных дорог  о проводимой работе в области развития контейнерных перевозок.

The meeting participants were provided with the information of representatives of regarding the work, which is carried out in the field of container transportation development.

The representative of Kazakstan Temir Zholy National Company JSC (KZH) informed that within 9 months of 2014, 1338 container trains passed through the network of the Railway of Kazakhstan, including those in export direction - 170 container trains (from Kazakhstan to China - 93, from Kazakhstan to the countries of Europe - 13, from Kazakhstan to Russia - 64); in import direction - 462 container trains (from China to Kazakhstan - 273, from the countries of Europe to Kazakhstan - 109, from Russia to Kazakhstan - 77, from Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan - 3); in transit traffic - 706 container trains (from China to the countries of Europe - 129, from the countries of Europe to China - 8, from China to Uzbekistan - 12, from Uzbekistan to China - 3, from Russia to China - 1, from China to Russia - 2, from Russia to Uzbekistan - 292, from Uzbekistan to Russia - 259). In comparison to the similar period of 2013 the number of container trains increased by 9 trains (growth by 1.5%). Transit container trains proceeded through the territory of Kazakhstan along the following routes:

- Chengdu (China) – Lodz (Poland) - 34 trains (+16 trains to 2013, organised since December 19, 2012);

- Zhengzhou (China) – Hamburg (Germany) - 36 trains (+34 trains to 2013, organised since July 17, 2013);

- Chongqing (China) – Duisburg (Germany) - 45 trains (+17 trains, runs since March 19, 2011);

- Wuhan (China) – Pardubice (Czech Republic) - 13 trains (new route, organised since June 5, 2014);

- Wuhan (China) – Lodz (Poland) - 1 train (new route, organised since April 23, 2014).

Introduction into operation of new railway lines Zhezkazgan – Saksaulskaya – Beyneu and Arkalyk – Shubarkol with an overall length of more than 1200 km has become a particularly outstanding event. The expected economic effect of the specified projects for railway clients will provide for a decrease: in transportation costs - from 10 to 30%, delivery periods - from 1 to 3 days. Operationalization of new lines completes formation of an integral structure of national railway system of Kazakhstan. The railway lines being put into operation optimize the routes of freight traffic in the directions of North – South and East – West.

Creation of new transport routes, which will connect the Central-Asian region with China, will give the chance to increase export flows from China, as well as the countries of South-East Asia in the direction of the Russian Federation, the EU and Middle-East countries with use of land infrastructure on the Euro-Asian continent.

The project is aimed to create modern infrastructure for the production and export of goods from Kazakhstan to the markets of China and countries of South-East Asia, to attract additional transit freight flow. The planned completion date of construction of the first launching complex was end of 2014. The planned volume of processed cargoes is up to 4.4 million tons by 2020.

At present the NC KTZ JSC carries out a number of logistic projects, both inside the country and abroad. In the current year, the NC KTZ JSC has commissioned construction of secondary infrastructure of "Dry Port" on the territory of free economic zone "Horgos - East Gate" near the border with China. The aim of the project is to create a modern infrastructure for the production and export of goods from Kazakhstan onto the markets of China and South-East Asian countries, attracting additional transit freight traffic. The completion of the first start-up complex construction was planned till the end of 2014. The planned volumes of cargo processing is up to 4.4 million tons by 2020.

The first stage of the construction of Kazakhstan-Chinese terminal complex in the Chinese port of Lianyungang has been completed. On May 19, 2014 its official opening with participation of the heads of state of Kazakhstan and China took place. The works are planned to be completed till the end of 2014 (area of 21.6 hectares), and the volumes of freight flows via the terminal are expected at a level of more than 62 thousand containers in TEUs. According to the business plan, the volumes of container flows via the joint terminal in the port of Lianyungang will reach 250 thousand TEUs in 2015 with further increase twice by 2020.

The Lithuanian Railways’ (LG) representative noted that much attention is paid to the project on development of the Viking combined-transport train. The large-scale advertising campaign of this project was carried out, a conference with potential clients was organised, and contracts with the representatives of sea lines have been signed. Accession in 2013 of the Turkish private transport company to this project, which became an operator of this train in Turkey, has been a successful result of the work done. On May 15, 2014 the Romanian Railways joined the project, and an operator on the Romanian territory has been approved. On the development stage was the processing technology of the Viking train in Turkey and the plan of measures to develop the project of the Viking combined transport until the end of 2014 and in 2015. With the purpose of increasing the freight traffic through the territory of Lithuania a decision was taken to expand the range of services provided by LG and to involve other means of transport into the process: sea, road and air. In this connection the section "LG Expedition" of the LG Freight Transport Directorate has been reorganised into an independent Department on Freight Transportation, which makes all efforts to attract new freight flows in communication Europe – Asia – Europe. Meanwhile, regular container traffic of the trains Saule, Baltic Wind and Baltica Transit has been developing together with partners in communication Europe – Asia – Europe.

When considering the subtopic “Creation of a data base of container traffic volume indices”, it was noted, that considerable work had been carried out to prepare a data base of large-container traffic volume indices on the OSJD railways for 2013, basing on the data, provided by the OSJD railways. The analyses showed, that in 2013 the OSJD railways admitted 2543 thousand TEUs and handed over 2536 thousand TEUs, that is 1.4% and 2.5% less respectively as compared to 2012.

 

The leading duty holder from the RZD JSC carried out works on the subtopic “Updating and support of the electronic version Актуализация и сопровождение электронной версии Справочника of the Guide Large-Container and Contrailer Transportation in Communication Europe – Asia” and presented an updated version of this Guide. Starting from January 1, 2015, the leading duty holder on this subtopic is the NC KTZ JSC (KZH), which will continue further to update the Guide.

 

According to the information of KZD and KZH representatives, in September 2014 the post services of the Chinese People’s Republic and the Republic of Kazakhstan in cooperation with KZD and KZH carried out 2 trial shipments of post items in containers in communication China – Kazakhstan (two 40-foot containers along the routes Urumqi – Dostyk – Alma-Ata-1 and Chongqing – Altynkol – Alma-Ata-1). The project’s operator and freight forwarder on the territory of Kazakhstan was KTZ Express JSC - a subsidiary of NC KTZ JSC, and on the Chinese territory - China Railway International Multimodal Transport Co. Ltd. (CRIMT). Payment for the transportation was made by the consignor company “The Post of China” onto the account of the cargo recipient - Kazpochta JSC. Today a sufficient number of post shipment requests are received for the railway transport in the direction China – European countries. KZD was proposed to continue organising container post shipments till the end of 2014 and in 2015. DB Schenker Rail AG’s representative supported the proposal of KZD and KZH and expressed readiness to carry put such a transportation.

 

While considering the subject “Works carried out to organise transportation under the application of unified CIM/SMGS consignment note”, the meeting participants noted, that the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note had been actively applied since the moment of its introduction. Meanwhile the interest of clients has been growing constantly to such kind of transportations. The volume of international transportation under the application of unified CIM/SMGS consignment note has been increasing in such projects as follows: container trains from Chongqing to Duisburg, transportation of car spare parts and components from West-European countries to Russia (Kaluga, Nizhniy Novgorod, Vorotynsk).

According to the information of DB Schenker Rail AG, which is responsible for the freight sector in the German Railways, active work has been carried out to apply unified CIM/SMGS consignment note in transportation from China to Europe. Since November 2012 till late August 2014 more than 2900 shipments have been registered in this communication under the application of the unified CIM/SMGS consignment notes.

Special role was noted from the side of OSJD Committee, CIT, as well the OSJD Commission on Freight Traffic, and special thanks were extended for the works carried and the support rendered in the organisation of traffic between Europe and Asia under the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note. Due to the decreased delays on the borders, avoiding of mistakes in the travel documents, as well as overall transportation quality improvement, the customers are interested in the application of unified CIM/SMGS consignment note also in the reverse direction: from Europe to China. Since midyear 2014 two container trains have been organised from Europe to China. For the second part of 2014 the consignors’ requests for about 20 trains was registered. As of late August 2014 four container trains ran from Duisburg to Chongqing. Due to the volumes of 36 container trains initially requested by the customers for 2015, as well as due to the other routes being developed and the customers’ interest being raised towards the application of the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note in the traffic between Europe and Asia in both directions, the DB Schenker Rail AG put forward an initiative for all transportation process participants to support the unified consignment note’s application when organising shipments between Europe and Asia in both directions.

According to the information of the NC KTZ JSC’s representative, organised and run under the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note in communication China – Germany during the first 9 months of 2014 have been 45 container trains or 3742 TEUs along the route Chongqing – Dostyk – Duisburg.

According to the information of the Railway of Moldova (CFM), 11909 loads have been transported for 8 months of 2014 under the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note, of which 10764 loads have been transited in the direction Kuchurgan (Ukraine) – Georgiulesti (Moldova) – Galac Larga (Romania) - and 5 loads have been imported from Poland.

Application of unified CIM/SMGS consignment note has been declared by CFM for all the export, import and transit routes without any need of preliminary approval.

In the future it is planned to organise container train Nr. 1152/1151 on the route Poland – Ukraine – Moldova (Slawkow – Izov – Mogilev-Podolski – Rybniza) with the application of unified CIM/SMGS consignment note. The goods available at CFM in 2013 and first half of 2014 in the direction Europe – Asia have made up an average amount of 10500 tons, of which 3000 tons in transit, 5000 tons in import, and 2500 tons in export. The main types of goods coming into the Republic of Moldova have been fuel, gasoline and sugar, in transit – ore, ferroconcentrates, coal, sheet steel, pipes, sugar, fertilizers and paper.

According to the information of Freight One JSC (OSJD affiliated enterprise), the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note have been applied for processing 114 wagons of Freight One in communication West – East for 5 months of 2014. The main transportation route is from Chop station (export from Romania via Ukraine) with destination to the stations of the Moscow Railway (Russia); the transportation was organised in covered wagons of Freight One Company, the cargo was composed of construction materials made of the natural stone. Transportation volumes organised under the application of the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note have reached 24% of the total load amount of Freight One wagons in thje Chop/Batevo transshipment region.

The TransContainer representative (OSJD affiliated enterprise) reported, that the container trains, composed of the TransContainer wagons loaded with 40-foof containers, run under the projects of Volkswagen and Peugeot-Citroen companies. In the future it is planned, if possible, to apply the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note. During 9 months of 2014, 16695 loads were transported under unified CIM/SMGS consignment note in the direction of East – West, in the direction West – East - 10211 loads, which ran in the composition of container trains.

On the Polish Railways’ network more than 99% of traffic under the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note transited by the PKP Cargo JSC through the territory of Poland, make up intermodal shipments from the European Countries to Russia and Kazakhstan. For the 5 months of 2014, 10133 loads had been carried by the company in the direction of East – West under the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note, composed mostly of such goods as timber and intermodal cargo, and in the direction of West– East - 5278 loads with such cargo as glass materials, machines and equipment.

According to the CD Cargo JSC’s information, 11215 transports had been sent during the year of 2014 under the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note (export - 5682, import - 5533). The application of the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note in the direction of Russia has made up: in export traffic - 84%, in import traffic - 90%, in communication with Belarus - import 68%, with Ukraine - export 1% and import - 2,5%, with Kazakhstan - export 89%.

For the 8 months of 2014, 46475 loads had been carried on the railways of Ukraine under the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note, that is 1.2 times more as compared to the same period of 2013 (38867 loads). Of which wagon loads made up 34472 (export - 26761, import - 542, transit - 7169), and container transport - 12003 loads (export - 510, import - 285, transit - 11208). The main cargoes carried under the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note were represented by container loads: empty containers carried to Romania for loading, timber, chip wood boards, car spare parts and components, wooden tare (return). The wagon loads were represented by timber, metal-rolling products, chemical fertilizers, ore minerals and concentrates, scrap paper, steel, gasoline, sugar, slaty blinding, return of own empty high-sided wagon and tank wagons. In 2014 transportation under the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note was carried out in the direction of Ukraine: from Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany; in transit through the territory of Ukraine: from Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia into Russia and into Kazakhstan, from Russia into Slovakia.

According to the information of Georgian Railway JSC (GR), the freight traffic under the application of unified CIM/SMGS consignment note through the network of the Georgian Railway is not carried out at present. GR demonstrates its concern to carry out in the future transportations under the application of the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note on the railway line Baku (Azerbaijan) – Tbilisi (Georgia) – Kars (Turkey), which construction and operationalization are planned to be completed in 2015.

According to the information of Rohi Ohani Tojikiston SUE (TDZ), transition to the transportation under the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note is for the Tajik Railway of certain difficulties because all border-crossing points of TDZ in international traffic pass transit thought the network of the Railways of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Specialists of corresponding TDZ’s services and departments carry out certain activities to study the procedures for transiting to the application of the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note in cooperation with the experts of the Ozbekiston Temir Yollari State-Stock Raiway Company (UTI). The UTI SSRC informed, that at present the company has no capability to transmit to the application of the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note. Its application has been considered for the organisation of import, export and transit traffic, and as soon as UTI structural and operational divisions are ready to apply this consignment note,  the OSJD Committee will be additionally informed.

 

The leading duty holder - KZH informed about what has been done in the reporting period under the joint UNESCAP-OSJD projects with participation of experts of involved OSJD railways.

Under Project 1 – “Planning and Implementation of Demonstration Runs of Container Block-Trains along the Trans-Asian Railway Northern Corridor”.

According to the information of UBZD JSC, in 2013 and in I quarter 2014 container trains’ runs were organised in communication Europe – Asia – Europe on the following routes: Hamburg – Brest – Naushki – Zamyn-Uud – Beijing (Peking)/Zhengzhou; Chengdu – Zhengzhou – Zamyn-Uud – Brest - Duisburg/Lodz.

According to KZH, container trains have been organised and passed through the territory of Kazakhstan in the directions of Europe – Asia and Asia – Europe on the following routes: Czech Republic / Finland / Latvia / Lithuania – Kazakhstan; Aksu – Dostyk – China; Zhinishke – Riga-Krasta; Chengdu / Wuchang / Zhengzhou / Chongqing – Dostyk – Lodz / Gamburg / Dujsburg; Мууга - Saryagash - Ulugbek; Qingdao / Lianyungang – Ablyk/Alamedin.

Under Project 2 – “Developing Euro-Asian transport routes with special attention paid to the landlocked countries of Asia and Caucasus region”.

According to the information of the leading duty holder - KZH on the project “Container train Istanbul – Almaty”, works are carried out to improve the logistics of container cargoes coming from the Persian Gulf States, as well as from Turkey and Iran in the direction of Kazakhstan by organising container trains which will give more chances for the cargoes to cross distances with the least costs and shorter time as compared to the sea transport. On March 2, 2014 the city of Teheran hosted a High Level Working Group meeting on the project “Organisation of regular container block-trains on Bandar Abbas – Almaty route”, which was attended by the delegations of the countries through the territories of which the route runs: Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Republic of Uzbekistan. The primary goals and ways to develop the organisation of container block-trains on the route Bandar Abbas – Almaty (train makeup plans, tariff conditions, use of route tracing system to ensure safety and security of cargoes, cargo-originating basis in both directions, train technical specifications and parameters, etc.) were considered.

The existing basic transport routes in communication Asia – Europe – Asia have been defined as priority routes passing through the Kazakhstan border crossing point with China (Dostyk/Alashankou) on the line Dostyk – Iletsk-1, the Russian border crossing points with Mongolia (Naushki) and China (Zabaikalsk), Far East Russian ports (Nakhodka, Vladivostok, Vostochny) on which regular container trains run at present.

The meeting participants have noted the importance of the works performed by the involved railways in the field of the joint UNESCAP-OSJD projects using the OSJD international platform in cooperation with UNESCAP, UIC and CCTT.

On February 3-6, 2014 the city of Bochna (Republic of Poland) hosted the meeting of the Commission concerning working out and coordinating of timetables for the international freight trains of the European railways and of group I of OSJD railways for 2014-2015. The meeting was attended by the representatives of railways of a number of OSJD member countries and invited European railway companies and operators, as well as OSJD Committee and Forum Train Europe (FTE).

 

In regard to the subject “Issues of Competitiveness and Marketing” the railway administrations of the Euro-Asian continent take and implement conceptual decisions aimed at improving the railway freight traffic, develop and better the quality of transport activities and services, reduce the delivery time and maintain cargo safety, harmonise international procedures for processing international transport documentation in the environment of different legal systems applied, facilitate border-crossing procedures and pursue a competitive tariff policy.

To increase the quality of transport market services, rendered by the railways, various methods of international freight transport are organised and implemented. The most successful of them have proved to be container block-trains, including those under the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note where railway administrations have gained a wide experience.

Taking into consideration the processes of railway sector reforms ongoing on the railways of OSJD member countries in past years, containerisation of international trade, organisation of new transport products, creations of logistics centres, etc., it is expedient for the railways to use the OSJD platform in order to exchange ideas and experience in the field of increasing the efficiency of railway transport activities, improving transport services for customers, defining interaction prospects of railways and transport-forwarding companies.

The meeting participants have stressed the expediency of organising thematic conferences with a view of discussing the important issues of railway freight traffic competitiveness increase, development of container transportation in international traffic, including organisation of transportation with participation of railway-ferry traffic, practical application of the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note, use of freight wagons in international traffic with participation of numerous licensed carriers, tariff policy and marketing of goods flows, perspective development of combined transport and logistics services.

It is planned to hold X-th OSJD International Freight Conference in partnership with KoRail (OSJD affiliated enterprise) in the city of Seoul (Republic of Korea) in May 2015. During the Conference a business dialogue will be organised at a level of the top railway administrations’ and companies’ officials, to discuss the important issues of improving the transport routes of freight traffic between the countries of Asian-Pacific Region (АPR) and Europe and developing yhe logistics businesses. Also considered will be infrastructural capacities for transportation from Asia to Europe and processing of stable freight flow formed in the opposite direction, in connection with strengthening competitive features of railway transport.

 

During the meeting some experts and specialists of OSJD railways were awarded OSJD honourable diplomas for having contributed their substantial professional expertise and for their active participation in the OSJD development. Among them were representatives of OSJD railways from Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine and the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic.