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CIV Working Group focuses on developments in EU legislation and at international level
On 20 November, CIT held the 62nd session of the CIV Working Group. The meeting took place in-person in Bern and online. The highlights of the meeting, chaired by Oliver Hirschfeld (DB), were discussions on developments in EU legislation such as the proposed Regulation on passenger rights in the context of multimodal journeys and the (TA) TSI ongoing revision.
New proposal of the European Commission on multimodal passenger rights
The CIV Working Group focuses on the European Commission`s proposal for a Regulation on passenger rights in the context of multimodal journeys (COM [2023] 752) final), known as the “MM PRR”. During the meeting it was explained that the proposal is intended to extend the existing EU Passenger Rights regulations, i.e. those for air (Regulations No 261/2004 and No 1107/2006), rail (Regulation No 2021/782), sea (Regulation No 1177/2010) and bus/coach (Regulation No 181/2011) to cover the rights of passengers switching between modes of transport.
The latest work of the Council of the European Union, which reached a General Approach on 22 November, was discussed extensively. The CIV Working Group was particularly critical of the definition of the carrier and the inclusion of the “contracting” carrier as the entity responsible to passengers in both the Council’s and Commission’s drafts.
Important developments in the field of the Telematics TSI
In addition, participants in the CIV Working Group were given an overview of the status of the TSI revision and the key points of the text proposal were presented. The importance of the Open Sales and Distribution Model (OSDM) was once more emphasized and that CIT is advocating for its inclusion in the TSI.
OTIF consultation on a possible revision of COTIF and its appendices
One other important topic was the discussion on a survey launched by the OTIF Secretariat concerning a potential revision of COTIF itself and its appendices on railway contract law such as the CIV Uniform Rules (“CIV”) etc.
During the meeting it was decided that CIT should answer the survey but that each Railway Undertaking would remain free to answer it independently as well.
The CIV Working Group considered it important to ask whether the definition of carrier in the CIV corresponds to market needs and what the role of carriers as ticket vendors in the CIV is.