CHAPTER XI

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

C

Transport by Rail3European Agreement on Main International Railway Lines (AGC)Geneva, 31 May 1985Entry into force27 April 1989, in accordance with article 6(1).Registration27 April 1989, No. 26540StatusSignatories11Parties28TextUnited Nations,<i>Treaty Series</i>,vol. 1530United Nations, <i>Treaty Series </i>, vol. 1530, p. 65; depositary notifications C.N.34.1992.TREATIES-1 of 30 March 1992; C.N.220.1994.TREATIES-2 of 20 July 1994; C.N.123.1996.TREATIES-1 of 28 May 1996; C.N.166.1997.TREATIES-1 of 2 May 1997; C.N.68.2000.TREATIES-1 of 10 February 2000: C.N.255.2001.TREATIES-1 of 28 March 2001 (Proposal of amendments by the Czech Republic, the Republic of Moldova and the Government of Greece to Annex I of the AGC) and C.N.826.2001.TREATIES-3 of 1 October 2001 (Acceptance); C.N.202.2003.TREATIES-1 of 4 March 2003 and doc. TRANS/SC.2/198 para.27 (proposal of amendments by the Government of Slovenia to Annex I of the Agreement); C.N.140.2005.TREATIES-1 of 28 February 2005 and doc. TRANS/SC.2/202 para.23 (proposal of amendments by the Government of Germany to Annex I of the Agreement); C.N.669.2005.TREATIES-2 of 29 August 2005 (Acceptance of the amendments proposed by Germany to Annex I of the Agreement ); C.N.650.2006.TREATIES-2 of 9 August 2006 (Proposal of amendments by Hungary to Annex I of the Agreement) and C.N.194.2007.TREATIES-1 of 12 February 2007 (Acceptance); C.N.532.2007.TREATIES-1 of 3 May 2007 (Proposal of Amendments by Latvia to Annex I to the AGC Agreement) and C.N.1050.2007.TREATIES-3 of 5 November 2007 (Acceptance); C.N.711.2010.TREATIES-1 of 30 December 2010 (Proposal of Amendments to Annex I to the AGC Agreement) and C.N.528.2011.TREATIES-1 of 25 August 2011 (Acceptance); C.N.69.2018.TREATIES-XI.C.3 of 6 February 2018 (Proposal of amendments to Annex I to the AGC Agreement) and CN.380.2018.TREATIES-XI-C-3 of 14 August 2018 (Acceptance); C.N.140.2019.TREATIES-XI.C.3 of 17 April 2019 (Proposal of amendments to Annex II to the AGC) and C.N.559.2019.TREATIES-XI.C.3 of 22 October 2019 (Acceptance); C.N.107.2020.TREATIES-XI.C.3 of 24 March 2020 (Proposal of Amendments to Annex I) and C.N.435.2020.TREATEIS-XI.C.3 of 9 October 2020 (Acceptance); C.N.89.2021.TREATIES-XI.C.3 of 12 March 2021 (Proposal of Amendments to Annex I) and C.N.280.2021.TREATIES-XI.C.3 of 23 September 2021 (Acceptance); C.N.61.2022.TREATIES-X.C.3 of 28 February 2022 (Proposal of Amendments to Annex I) and C.N.275.2022.TREATIES-XI.C.3 of 7 September 2022 (Acceptance); C.N.61.2023.TREATIES-XI.C.3 of 2 March 2023 (Proposal of amendments to annex I) and C.N.277.2023.TREATIES-XI.C.3 of 11 September 2023 (Acceptance of Amendments); C.N.83.2024.TREATIES-XI.C.3 of 4 March 2024 (Proposal of amendments to Annex I to the Agreement).<superscript>1</superscript>The Agreement was drawn up under the auspices of the Inland Transport Committee of the Economic Commission for Europe and is open for signature at Geneva until 1 September 1986.

ParticipantSignatureRatification, Accession(a), Acceptance(A), Approval(AA), Succession(d)Albania 5 Jun 2007 aAustria 1 Oct 2001 aBelarus27 Aug 1986 1 Apr 1987 ABelgium 6 Aug 1999 aBosnia and Herzegovina<superscript>2</superscript> 1 Sep 1993 dBulgaria 9 Mar 1990 aCroatia<superscript>2</superscript>20 May 1994 dCzech Republic<superscript>3</superscript> 2 Jun 1993 dFrance28 Aug 1986 27 Jan 1989 AAGermany<superscript>4,5</superscript>29 Aug 1986 23 Oct 1987 Greece 9 Jul 1986 31 Mar 1995 Hungary16 Apr 1986 26 Jun 1987 AAItaly19 Aug 1986 29 Nov 1991 Latvia18 May 2006 aLithuania27 Mar 2002 aLuxembourg17 Jul 1986 28 Oct 1996 Montenegro<superscript>6</superscript>23 Oct 2006 dNorth Macedonia<superscript>2</superscript> 5 Oct 1994 dPoland<superscript>7</superscript> 5 Feb 1986 14 Sep 1988 Portugal 1 Nov 1985 Republic of Moldova 8 Jul 1996 aRomania11 Dec 1996 aRussian Federation27 Aug 1986 10 Mar 1987 ASerbia<superscript>2</superscript>12 Mar 2001 dSlovakia<superscript>3</superscript>28 May 1993 dSlovenia 6 Jul 1992 dTürkiye 4 Jan 1993 aTurkmenistan31 Aug 2020 aUkraine27 Aug 1986 22 Sep 1987 AAustriaDeclaration:"Declaration in respect of Article 8 of the European Agreement on Main International Railway Lines (AGC):The Federal Government of the Republic of Austria declares herewith in accordance with Article 9 of the European Agreement on Main International Railway Lines (AGC) that the Republic of Austria does not consider herself bound by the provisions of Article 8 of the AGC.The topographic conditions in Austria do not permit a complete adherence to the parameter "nominal minimum speed" of 160 kph on existing lines and of 250 kph on new lines to be built. Also, when considering the optimal use of resources available for the improvement of railroad infrastructure and the prioritary goal of the lines capacity, the parameter of a "nominal minimum speed" of 250 kph cannot be upheld for all new lines."BelarusReservation made upon signature and confirmed upon acceptance:The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic does not condider itself bound by article 8 of the European Agreement on Main International Railway Lines of 31 May 1985 and declares that the agreement of all the parties to a dispute is required, in each specific case, for the submission to arbitrators of any dispute between Contracting Parties relating to the interpretation or application of the European Agreement and that only persons designated by mutual agreement between the parties to a dispute may act as arbitrators.Czech Republic<superscript>3</superscript>LatviaNotification under article 13:“In accordance with Article 13 of the European Agreement on Main International Railway Lines (AGC) the Republic of Latvia declares that the administration to which proposed amendments to the annexes to this Agreement are to be communicated in conformity with Articles 11 and 12 is:Ministry of TransportGogola Str.3Rïga, LV-1743LatviaPhone: +371 7028210Fax: +371 7217180E-mail: sat_m@sam.gov.lv”Poland<superscript>7</superscript>Russian FederationReservation made upon signature and confirmed upon acceptance:<i>[Same reservation </i>, mutatis mutandis, <i>as that made by Belarus.] </i>Slovakia<superscript>3</superscript>UkraineReservation made upon signature and confirmed upon acceptance:<i>[Same reservation </i>, mutatis mutandis, <i>as that made by Belarus.] </i>1Amendments to the Convention were adopted as follows: 4Amendments to:Proposed by:Date of circulation:Date of entry into force: Annex IGermany30 Mar 199210 Mar 1993 Annex ICzech Republic, France, Germany, Poland, Russian Fed eration, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine20 Jul 199414 May 1995 Annex ICroatia28 May 199618 Mar 1997 Annex IItaly and Republic of Moldova12 Nov 199712 Feb 1998 Annex IHungary and Poland10 Feb 200015 Nov 2000 Annex ICzech Republic, Republic of Moldova and Greece28 Mar 20011 Jan 2002 Annex IGermany28 Feb 20059 Nov 2005 Annex IHungary9 Aug 200512 May 2007 2The former Yugoslavia had acceeded to the Agreement on 31 January 1990. See also note 1 under “Bosnia and Herzegovina”, “Croatia”, “former Yugoslavia”, “Slovenia”, “The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and “Yugoslavia” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.3Czechoslovakia had acceded to the Agreement on 10 May 1990, with the following reservation:Czechoslovakia shall not consider itself bound by article 8 of the Agreement.See also note 1 under “Czech Republic” and note 1 under “Slovakia” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.4See note 1 under “Germany” regarding Berlin (West) in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.5The German Democratic Republic had acceded to the Agreement on 22 March 1988 with the following reservation: Reservation:The German Democratic Republic does not consider itself bound by the provisions of Article 8 of the Agreement on Main International Railway Lines (AGC) of 31 May 1985.In order to refer a dispute which relates to the interpretation or application of the Agreement to arbitration, it is necessary in each single case to have the consent of all States in the dispute. The arbitrators have to be selected jointly by the States in the dispute. See also note 2 under “Germany” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.6See note 1 under "Montenegro" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.7Upon ratification, the Government of Poland declared that it withdraws its reservation made upon signature. The text of the reservation read as follows: The Government of Poland declares that it does not consider itself bound by article 8 of the Agreement.