UIC has recently published IRS 40436: “Technical Transfer Inspection – TTI-25”, in English, French and German. This IRS conveys part of Appendix 9 of the General Contract of Use for Wagons (GCU), which has been removed from the original GCU text following the amendments introduced for the 2026 version.

These amendments were necessary to ensure full alignment with the European Union regulatory framework, in particular with regard to the clear allocation of roles and responsibilities between Railway Undertakings (RU), Wagon Keepers (WK) and Entities in Charge of Maintenance (ECM), as defined in EU legislation.

By transferring certain technical and operational provisions from the GCU to a dedicated IRS, the updated GCU maintains its contractual nature while avoiding overlaps or inconsistencies with binding EU regulations. IRS 40436 therefore provides a harmonised and transparent reference document which supports the correct application of the regulatory framework while preserving operational continuity within the rail freight sector.

The publication of IRS 40436 represents an important step in ensuring consistency between contractual arrangements and regulatory obligations, contributing to legal clarity, interoperability and safety across the European rail system.

The IRS is available free of charge in German, English and French on the UIC website (https://shop.uic.org/en/search?s=40436).