65 Years of OSJD Activities in Eurasia

Abstract

The Organisation for Co-Operation between Railways (OSJD) is an international organisation established on the basis of the “Provisions on the Organisation for Cooperation between Railways” international agreement. The year 2021 is significant for the OSJD since the Organisation celebrates 65 years of its existence. The past years were a period of constant development of the OSJD, full of important events and changes, both within the Organisation itself and in the economic and geopolitical situation of the regions in which it functions. The OSJD has always been focused on the development and improvement of railway transport in Eurasia through the development and improvement of transport corridors and the harmonization of transport law. It is one of the major organisations in the railway sector, actively operating and cooperating with other important international organisations functioning in the railway transport sector, such as the International Union of Railways (UIC), the International Rail Transport Committee (CIT), and the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF), whose task is to promote, cooperate, develop, improve, and facilitate international railway transport as a means of transport that could meet the challenges in terms of mobility and sustainable transport. As part of this cooperation, the OSJD is focused on the constant improvement of railway transport through the simplification of border procedures and the harmonisation of transport documents, which is exemplified by the common CIM/SMGS consignment note. The purpose of this article is to outline the main tasks and roles of the Organisation in the development of railway transport in Eurasia in recent years. Keywords: OSJD, railway transport, international organisations, Eurasia, consignment note