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Agreement on International Rail Freight Traffic (COTIF) - Definition & Meaning | Logistics Glossary

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GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 23, 2026

Agreement on International Rail Freight Traffic (COTIF)

COTIF (Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail) provides the unified legal framework for cross-border rail freight transport across Europe and neighbouring regions, administered by OTIF (Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail).

Quick Answer

COTIF (Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail) provides the unified legal framework for cross-border rail freight transport across Europe and neighbouring regions, administered by OTIF…

It covers liability rules, freight documentation, customs procedures, and the rights of shippers, consignees, and railway undertakings.

The operationally critical component is the CIM Uniform Rules (Uniform Rules concerning the Contract of International Carriage of Goods by Rail), which govern the freight contract, the CIM…

Last updated: 23 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://www.otif.org/en/legal-texts/cotif.html

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Agreement on International Rail Freight Traffic (COTIF)

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Definition & Explanation

COTIF (Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail) provides the unified legal framework for cross-border rail freight transport across Europe and neighbouring regions, administered by OTIF (Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail). It covers liability rules, freight documentation, customs procedures, and the rights of shippers, consignees, and railway undertakings. The operationally critical component is the CIM Uniform Rules (Uniform Rules concerning the Contract of International Carriage of Goods by Rail), which govern the freight contract, the CIM consignment note, and the liability regime. COTIF applies in around 50 member states stretching from Western Europe to Central Asia and the Middle East. It should not be confused with the CIM/SMGS through consignment note, a separate instrument designed to bridge the transition between European and post-Soviet railway systems.

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Recommended format: Source: Freight Academy – Agreement on International Rail Freight Traffic (COTIF) (https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/agreement-on-international-rail-freight-traffic-cotif), accessed 2026-09-12
APA style: Freight Academy Editorial Team. (2025). Agreement on International Rail Freight Traffic (COTIF). Freight Academy. https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/agreement-on-international-rail-freight-traffic-cotif
BibTeX: @misc{agreementoninternational2025, title = {Agreement on International Rail Freight Traffic (COTIF)}, author = {{Freight Academy Editorial Team}}, year = {2025}, url = {https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/agreement-on-international-rail-freight-traffic-cotif}, note = {Freight Academy, accessed 2026-09-12} }

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