Project

A. General Information

1. Title

e-CIM/SMGS Pilot Project – Digitalization of the CIM/SMGS Railway Consignment Note along TRACECA Corridor

2. Status of the project
Pilot
3. Implementation period of the project/service:
From
May-2023
To
--
4. Website
https://traceca-org.org/
5. Geographical coverage
Global: Europe, Asia and the Pacific
Participating countries: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Türkiye, Ukraine
Hub Point: Azerbaijan
6. Participating agencies/entities of the project/service:
a. Development stage
Lead agencies/entities
- Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA (PS IGC TRACECA)
- United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Other participating agencies/entities
- Organisation for Co-operation between Railways (OSJD)
- International Rail Transport Committee (CIT)
- International Union of Railways (UIC)
- UN/CEFACT
b. Operational stage
Lead agencies/entities (op)
- Azerbaijan Railways JSC (ADY)
- JSC Georgian Railway
- JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ)
- TCDD Transportation AS (Türkiye)
- JSC Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia)
Other participating agencies/entities (op)
- Transport ministries of participating countries
- Customs authorities of participating countries
- Maritime transport and port operators
7. Main stakeholders/beneficiaries of the project
Traders (big enterprises)
Traders (SMEs)
Transport
Customs brokers
Customs
Other Government Agencies (OGAs)
Railway operators, freight forwarders, logistics providers
8. Business process category of the project
Forwarding and cargo handling
Transport
Regulatory/official control

B. Lessons Learned

9. Summary description of the project/service
Brief Summary

A pilot project to digitalize the CIM/SMGS railway consignment note enabling electronic issuance and exchange between railway operators along the Trans-Caspian Corridor, aligning with UN/CEFACT standards.

a. Objective(s)

To develop and test a digital prototype of the electronic CIM/SMGS consignment note (eCIM/SMGS CN) to modernize international railway transport, enhance efficiency and interoperability across multiple countries, and reduce errors in freight documentation processes.

b. Business need for the project (background)

The carriage of freight between Europe and Asia is governed by two legal regimes: CIM Uniform Rules and SMGS Agreement. At their interface, shipments require reconsignment with new documentation, causing delays. Digitalizing the unified CIM/SMGS consignment note addresses fragmentation and accelerates cross-border rail transport.

c. Business process covered*

International rail freight transport documentation, customs transit procedures, electronic exchange of consignment notes between railway operators, and information sharing with customs authorities.

d. Overall architecture and functionalities*

The digital prototype aligns with UN/CEFACT standards and the Multimodal Transport Reference Data Model (MMT RDM). It enables electronic exchange of consignment note messages between railway operators. Phase 1 tested virtual exchange of 20 electronic messages. Future phases include API development for integration with national railway IT systems and development of converters between UN/EDIFACT and other formats.

e. Relevant document/figure
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10. Documents and data exchanged via the project

- Electronic CIM/SMGS consignment note (eCIM/SMGS CN)
- Consignment data including goods description, routing information, carrier details
- 20 electronic consignment note messages were exchanged during initial testing

11. Data models/databases, proprietary solutions, hybrid approaches

The project uses UN/CEFACT Multimodal Transport Reference Data Model (MMT RDM) as foundation. XSD schemas for CIM/SMGS consignment notes have been developed in XML and JSON formats.

12. Main challenges faced during the project

- Fragmentation of digitalization projects across different countries
- Different national and modal legal regimes
- Different syntaxes and technical solutions used by participating railway operators
- Need for integration with existing IT systems of national railways

13. Lessons learned from the project

- Virtual testing demonstrated the capability of the digital prototype to enhance automation and accuracy of freight documentation
- Recommendations for further refinement to simplify structure and enhance compatibility were identified
- Need for API development to automate exchange via existing IT systems
- Need for converters to bridge UN/EDIFACT-based solutions with other standards

14. Main benefit(s) of the project
Enhanced regulatory compliance*
Transaction Time savings
Simplified process
14A. Elaborations/detailed description on benefits gained
--
15. Technical/financial/capacity building/other assistance

- UNECE/UN/CEFACT provided technical support for development of digital prototype
- GIZ (German agency for international cooperation) supported capacity-building seminars
- Consultant supported by UNECE and UN/CEFACT elaborated the digital prototype creation process
- SPECA Roadmap for Digitalization adopted November 2023

16. Future plan for expansion of the project

- Integration of electronic document exchange with IT systems of national railways in five countries
- Further testing phases and consultations planned for 2024
- Development of APIs to automate exchange of eCIM/SMGS via existing IT systems
- Development of converters to bridge different standards
- Combination with pilot projects in other modes of transport for multimodal interoperability
- Full implementation of electronic consignment notes for broader adoption

17. Other information or relevant references on the project

- MoU signed on 22 May 2023 in Baku during UNECE/UN/CEFACT capacity-building seminar
- First virtual testing conducted June 3-7, 2024
- Project discussed at 15th International Capacity-Building Seminar on Trade and Transport Facilitation in Aktau, Kazakhstan, June 11-12, 2024
- The project is part of broader Trans-Caspian/Middle Corridor digitalization efforts

18. Relevant document regarding the project
--

C. Relevant Standards

19. Name(s) of any international, national legal instrument underpinning the project
- Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) – Appendix B: CIM Uniform Rules
- Agreement on International Goods Transport by Rail (SMGS)
- CIM/SMGS Consignment Note Manual (GLV-CIM/SMGS)
- Memorandum of Understanding signed May 22, 2023 between participating railway operators
20. Electronic message standard
20A. Electronic message standard supporting the project
XML:
- UN/CEFACT BRS/RSM
- Other XML format: UN/CEFACT Multimodal Transport Reference Data Model (MMT RDM), XSD schemas for CIM/SMGS
20B. Type of standard for electronic message applied for the project
International standard
Technical recommendations from international body(ies)
21. Technical communication standard
21A. Technical communication standard supporting the project
HTTP, APIs for electronic message exchange (planned development)
21B. Type of technical communication standard applied for the project
International standard
22. Security-related standards*
22A. Security-related standard supporting the project
--
22B. Type of security-related standard applied for the project
--
23. Other Technical Information
23A. Interface developed for data exchange with an internal system
Virtual testing environment for exchange of electronic consignment note messages between railway operators. API development planned for integration with national railway IT systems.
23B. Other technical implementation information
- Digital prototype developed with support from UNECE/UN/CEFACT consultant
- Testing involved exchange of 20 electronic consignment note messages
- Converter development planned to bridge UN/EDIFACT standards and other solutions