Second meeting of the UPU Contact Committee on the transportation of international postal items by rail (UPU Railway Forum)

The CCTT participated in the second meeting of the UPU Contact Committee on the transportation of international postal items by rail (UPU Railway Forum), which was held on June 9, 2021, in a video conference format, chaired by Jiang Yanzhao (China Post). 
The meeting was attended by representatives of postal services, international organizations OTIF, CIT, OSJD, UIC, WCO, TAXUD, etc.
Transportation of international postal items is one of the topical issues discussed by representatives of the transport industry in recent years. The number of mail shipments by rail increased significantly during the pandemic and the closure of interstate borders. Within the framework of reports, speeches and discussions, the participants of the meeting shared their own experience, noted the current problems and difficulties encountered in the transportation of international postal items (IGOs) by rail, and also considered the prospects and trends in the development of transportation of postal units in containers. Head of the CCTT WG China-Europe-China, General Director of JSC UTLC ERA Alexey Grom presented to the participants the routes of postal transportation through the Dostyk/Altynkol border crossings in the China-Europe connection, and also noted the annually increasing volumes of mail transportation by rail and further prospects.
Cooperation between the CCTT and the UPU on this issue has been conducted since 2016 and is stipulated by the memorandum of cooperation. In order to improve the issue of paperless document flow and to resolve the difficulties encountered in the exchange of data between participants in the transport process when crossing interstate borders, a number of joint meetings of IT experts of the CCTT and UPU on internal data exchange between postal and railway operators were held. As part of the joint work, pilot projects are being carried out aimed at improving of the technology of paperless document flow when following postal items in transit. Thanks to their implementation, analytical data were collected, which are used as practical material in the formation of a regulatory framework that will regulate the mail transportation by rail.
Within the framework of the meeting, the UPU presented to the participants a draft roadmap, the task of which will be to regulate the transportation process, optimize the routes, time and number of trains involved in the issue. The CCTT noted the need to develop an international document with appropriate detailed descriptions and procedures and implement it in all participating countries. This will ensure the unity of procedures and ensure the recognition of the legitimacy of postal transport documents (customs control, marking, security checks, etc.).