In the context of the European Rail Freight Corridors (RFCs), Railway Undertakings (RUs) developed the RU Handbook for International Contingency Management. This Handbook outlines harmonized international contingency measures and was developed by the UIC ECCO group, which unites the Railway Advisory Group Speakers, including ERFA representatives of the RFC Network. These measures are needed in the event of large incidents with significant international impact. Such an incident can, both in duration and scale, jeopardise major trade flows and risk undermining customer confidence in rail-freight’s resilience as a transport mode.
The handbook describes how RUs should cooperate amongst each other and with Infrastructure Managers and is closely aligned with the Contingency Management Handbook of Infrastructure Managers. It further outlines scenarios of resource pooling between RUs and the regulatory mitigation measures that would be needed to make that possible. RUs see resource pooling as the best possible way to make the most efficient use of available resources and maximise use of infrastructure capacity during severe disruptions.
The handbook has been endorsed by BLS Cargo, CFL Cargo, DB Cargo AG, the ERFA Board – representing it´s 30 members -, Fret SNCF, Lineas, RCG and SBB Cargo. All other RUs have been invited to join this effort to improve the resilience European Rail Freight. The first RUs will begin implementing in 2020. “ A product of Rail Freight Forward”