The expert meeting on this subject was held in accordance with the Work Plan of the OSJD Commission on Transport Policy and Development Strategy for 2023 from 6 through 8 February 2023 in the OSJD Committee (Warsaw) and was attended by the representatives of the following OSJD member countries: the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Republic of Belarus, Georgia, Hungary, Kyrgyz Republic, Russian Federation, Slovak Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Uzbekistan, Ukraine and the Czech Republic, as well as international organisations – Eurasian Economic Commission (EAEC), International Coordinating Council on Trans-Eurasian Transportation (CCTT) and the OSJD Committee.

Opening the meeting, Chairman of the OSJD Committee Mirosław Antonowicz in his welcoming speech to the meeting participants noted the important role of OSJD in tackling the issues related to the development of a uniform railway transport policy of the OSJD member countries in order to increase the attractiveness of rail transport in developing multimodal transportation and introducing the door-to-door services.

He also stressed the necessity and feasibility of drafting a document which would provide for a development strategy for OSJD and expressed his hope for the participation of experts of the OSJD member countries in this work.

The meeting was chaired by Shukhrat Kayumkhodjaev, Chairman of the OSJD Commission on Transport Policy and Development Strategy.

Within the agenda of the meeting, the following issues were addressed:

• study of the railway transport strategic development trends and reforms in the railway transport of the OSJD member countries with the information to be published on the OSJD Website;
• course of work of the OSJD/ERA Contact Group on the interaction of the 1520-mm/1435-mm track gauge railway systems;
• preparation of the programme of activities, agenda, final document and other organisational issues with regard to the round table on the results and plans of railway transport reforms carried out in the OSJD member countries;
• preparation and harmonisation of the draft Work Plan of the OSJD Commission on Transport Policy and Development Strategy for 2024 and draft Work Programme for 2025 and onwards.

The meeting participants were given presentations and information by representatives from the People’s Republic of China, Hungary, Kyrgyz Republic, Russian Federation, Slovak Republic, Republic of Uzbekistan and Ukraine on the strategic development and ongoing reforms in railway transport in these countries, in particular on infrastructure projects to develop the railway network, further develop passenger services and improve the quality of passenger services, as well as reforms undertaken to liberalise the railway traffic and the transportation process.

A presentation was also delivered by the OSJD Committee on the strategic objectives of the Organisation itself, the works being carried out to increase the attractiveness of rail transport, increase rail contribution in multimodal transport, increase the share of rail traffic on the transport market with the use of the advantages specific to rail transport, namely environmental friendliness and the role which the digitalisation of the rail passenger and freight transport process plays in further developing rail traffic.

During the discussion, the meeting participants underlined the importance of further work on the development of the OSJD railway transport corridors, which is carried out within the OSJD on this subject in view of the strategic objectives of the OSJD member countries.

The participants in the meeting discussed the information provided and exchanged experiences and views on the key strategic directions of railway transport development in the OSJD member countries.

The expert meeting took note of the information provided by the working staff of the OSJD Commission on Transport Policy and Development Strategy on the subject “The course of work of the OSJD/ ERA Contact Group on the interaction of the 1520-mm/1435-mm track gauge railway systems”.

In accordance with the provisions of the OSJD/ERA Memorandum of Understanding and in accordance with the approved Work Plan, the OSJD/ERA Con- tact Group held one meeting in 2022 to review the progress in updating the analysis of:

• “Locomotives and multiple-unit rolling stock” and “Passenger coaches” subsystems;
• “Infrastructure. Railway track and track facilities” subsystem.

Relevant information and practical experience were exchanged in order to coordinate measures to maintain and improve existing technical and operational compatibility and unhindered international railway traffic (including cross-border traffic and traffic safety). Presentations were made by the representatives of:

- RZD OJSC – “On the celebration of the year of ecology in RZD OJSC”;

- PKP JSC – “Variable gauge systems: state of the art”;

- DG MOVE – “Connecting Europe Express: a laboratory on wheels in a common European rail space”.

The meeting participants were informed that the Work Plan of the OSJD Commission on Transport Policy and Development Strategy provides for a round table discussion on the subject of “Results and plans of railway transport reform” to be held at the OSJD Committee from 29 to 30 March 2023.

Having discussed the issue, the participants preliminarily decided on the format of the round table and requested the OSJD member countries to prepare the relevant materials for the round table and to take an active part in it.

The following issues were selected for discussion during the round table:

• experience and results of the structural reform of railway companies;
• organisation and cooperation of railway companies (rolling stock owners and infrastructure managers);
• experience of freight traffic market liberalisation;
• the work of passenger traffic companies in the context of market liberalisation;
• the role of the state in the operation of railway transport in the context of market liberalisation;
• training and retention of qualified personnel in the current work environment.

The participants in the expert meeting also proposed to consider the possibility of publishing the Compendium on the outcome of the round table, the final decision on which will be taken at the annual meeting of the OSJD Commission on Transport Policy and Development Strategy.

The expert meeting considered and agreed upon the draft Work Plan of the OSJD Commission on Transport Policy and Development Strategy for 2024 on the subject of “Directions for the Strategic Development of Railway Transport in the OSJD Member Countries” and draft Programme for 2025 and onwards in the field of transport policy and development strategy.