Although specific geographical contexts may vary between regions and countries, the daily increase in transport demand caused by growing world trade is impacting the worldwide logistics network. We are witnessing a large variety of initiatives to promote efficient development and integration in freight transport in order to simplify and accelerate all the processes and at the same time to guarantee the highest safety standard.

Rail freight is increasingly integrated into the global transport’s supply chain and logistics solutions and this is the main topic which UIC members have to deal with and which UIC's work has to address.

In this context, key issues are:

• Interoperability and cooperation in terms of technology, harmonisation of procedures and operations, creating railway standards
• Productivity issues such as capacity optimisation in terms of resources planning and optimising technical performance
• Innovation in order to streamline and reduce the cost of operations in rail freight transport.