Geneva, 18 July 2003 The Group of National Coordinators of the UNECE-sponsored Trans-European Railway
(TER) Project met in Budapest to decide on a strategy for its Database and
Geographic Information System (GIS) activities.
During the meeting the new objectives for the TER database
and GIS application, inspired by the need to provide more opportunities for
sharing data among the TER countries, were considered. The analyses and comparisons
on the modernization of railways, as well as the progress made in this field
in the member countries were also discussed. The Group agreed to publish a
comparative table with TER standards and parameters versus the European Agreement
on Main International Railway Lines (AGC) and the European Agreement on Important
International Combined Transport Lines and Related Installations (AGTC) standards
established by UNECE (see attached).
The TER National Coordinators agreed on the new objectives
for the TER Database and GIS activities; on the new TER Data structure and
way of work; and on the development of a GIS application model for TER. They
further decided to establish concrete timetables for data collection, processing
and delivery of outputs. They also considered ways of allowing member countries
to use and further explore in a harmonized way the TER Database and GIS achievements.
They found very useful the organization of training courses for data experts.
They also benefited from organized visits by the countries’ experts to the
TER Project Central Office in Budapest for consultation, transfer of knowledge
and exchange of information.
The TER Project is a sub-regional intergovernmental cooperation
framework established in 1990 under the aegis of UNECE (Geneva) by the Governments
of Central, Eastern and South Eastern European countries. The TER Project
is working for the development of railway and combined transport infrastructure
in the region and is committed to assisting European integration and economic
development through the facilitation of railway traffic in Europe. The TER
Database represents an important ongoing activity of the TER Project that
started in 1995 and, thereafter, has been continuously updated and further
strengthened.
The activities of the Project are supported by the contribution
of 16 countries which have so far acceded to TER: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania,
Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey. In addition,
Belarus, Latvia, Republic of Moldova, The Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia,
Ukraine and, recently, Serbia and Montenegro have been participating in the
activities of the Project as observer countries.
For additional information please contact:
Mr. Jose Capel Ferrer, Director, or
Mr. Michalis P. Adamantiadis, Regional Adviser
UNECE Transport Division
Palais des Nations
CH – 1211 Geneva 10
Tel: +41(0)22 917 24 01, 917 11 28
Fax: +41(0)22 917 00 39
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
Web site: http://www.unece.org/trans/ (Under TER heading)
Ref: ECE/TRANS/03/N02