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CIV Working Group defines its focus for 2023

The implementation and interpretation of the new Passenger Rights Regulation and plans for further enhancement of the CIT products were some of the highlights of the 56th CIV Working Group on 16 November, which was held in person in Bern with remote participation. 

New PRR still in focus

Regulation (EC) 2021/782 on rail passengers' rights and obligations (PRR) has already entered into force and will become applicable from 7 June 2023.

Work on transposing the new PRR (PRR 2021) into the CIT's products (GCC-CIV/PRR, MCOOP, AIV and MIRT) has concluded and the necessary amendments were approved by the CIV Committee on 27 September. The revised CIT products are already available for CIT members on the webpage under the section “Future Versions” as all the products in line with the law will be applicable from 7 June 2023.

The PRR 2021 raises numerous questions relating to interpretation and implementation. The CIV WG has discussed various questions relating to the new law previously. The questions and the answers (Q&A) provided are collected in a dedicated table. This table is a living document which may be added to with further points. At its meeting in September this year, the CIV Committee decided that the table would be published on the CIT website in the “Members only” section.

Further enhancements of the CIT products

During the meeting, the CIT GS presented planned and possible enhancements of the CIT products.

• General Conditions of Carriage (GCC-CIV/PRR) as a “public” document these represent a set of contractual conditions between carrier and passenger; CIT will therefore focus on drafting a “customer friendly” text as it is important to provide an understandable text for a non-lawyer audience.
• For claims handling and aftersales purposes it is foreseen to amend the Agreement concerning the Relationships between Transport Undertakings (AIV) during 2023 in respect of the outcomes of the revised “accounting” leaflets UIC 301/IRS 30301 and UIC 361/IRS 30361 and the implementation of OSDM (IRS 90918-10). The EU Claim Form and associated Implementing Act required by PRR 2021 will also be in the focus of CIT’s work.
• As concerns the Manual for International Rail Tickets (MIRT), the spotlight will be on drafting a new chapter 10 on the Universal Rail Ticket (URT), enhancements of the information leaflet on “through-ticketing” and checking the outcomes of the revised “accounting” leaflets UIC 301/IRS 30301 and UIC 361/IRS 30361.
• During the meeting it was also underlined that the CIT Glossary and other products (MCOOP, AJC, MDP) will be worked on in 2023.

Next meeting

The next meeting of the CIV WG will be held on 22 and 23 February 2023 in Bern and also online.

jan.vavra@cit-rail.org

Useful links:

Regulation 2021/782 (“PRR 2021”): EUR-Lex - 32021R0782 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu)

CIT Future Products: https://www.cit-rail.org/en/passenger-traffic/products/

jan.vavra(at)cit-rail.org