MODERN DEVELOPMENT TRENDS IN INTERNATIONAL RAILWAY LAW: A COMPARATIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS OF THE COTIF AND SMGS SYSTEMS

Abstract

This article provides a comparative-legal analysis of the formation and modern development trends of international railway law using the Convention on concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) and the Agreement on International Goods Transport by Rail (AIGT) systems as examples. The main goal of the study is to determine the historical formation, legal nature, specific features, and functional interconnection of these international legal systems, as well as their significance in the regulation of international railway transport. The study employed historical-legal, comparative-legal, formal-legal, systemic, and logical analysis methods. The results of the study showed that despite the existence of independent legal systems regulating international railway transport, under the influence of modern transport and logistics processes, the interaction between COTIF and SMGS is increasingly strengthening. At the end of the article, it was substantiated that this harmonization is of great theoretical and practical importance in expanding Uzbekistan’s participation in international transport corridors, increasing its transit potential, and bringing national legislation closer to international standards. This study serves as a methodological basis for developing scientific conclusions and practical recommendations for improving legal mechanisms that serve to develop regional transport cooperation and increase Uzbekistan’s competitiveness in the international transport and logistics system.