One contract for the use of freight wagons across Europe
The General Contract of Use for Wagons sets the rights and obligations of wagon keepers and railway undertakings. GCU Bureau publishes the contract, runs the annual amendment cycle and maintains the GCU Broker.
open
Voting on seven proposals closes on 1 December 2026
- Proposals published
1 October 2026 - Information webinar
18 November 2026, 9:30 – 12:00 CET, via Zoom - End of voting
1 December 2026 - Adopted amendments in force
1 January 2027, unless a proposal states otherwise
Upcoming event
Information webinar: amendment proposals 2026, wave 2
18
November 2026
Join UIC, UIP and ERFA for an exclusive session where we will present the upcoming changes to the 2027 GCU. This is an opportunity to engage in an open dialogue and address the key concerns of all signatories and stakeholders. Simultaneous interpretation is provided in English, French and German.
Time
9:30 – 12:00 CET
Location
Live via Zoom
Interpretation
EN | FR | DE
Registration is free but required. More on the webinars page.
845
signatories
563,000
wagons registered in the GCU Broker
31
countries
2006
in force since July
Tools for signatories
Look up a wagon keeper, find a signatory, or work out a compensation amount under Appendix 5. Signatories manage their own data in the GCU Broker.
The GCU in brief
Presentation video of the GCU, published by GCU Bureau in June 2016.
2 November 2026
Webinar on amendment proposals 2026, wave 2
18 November 2026, 9:30 to 12:00 CET; connection details on the webinars page.
1 October 2026
Amendment proposals 2026, wave 2
Seven proposals published; voting until 1 December 2026.
What the GCU is
The GCU is a multilateral contract based on the COTIF 1999 convention and its Appendix CUV. It sets the mutual rights and obligations of wagon keepers (K) and railway undertakings (RU) when freight wagons are used as a means of transport in Europe and beyond.
It was launched in July 2006 by UIC, UIP and ERFA to standardise the contractual framework for the shared use of wagons.
Members who decide on amendments to the contract
Become a signatory as a keeper or railway undertaking
Every published edition since 2006