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 - End of voting
1 December 2026 - Adopted amendments in force
1 January 2027, unless a proposal states otherwise
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.
1 October 2026
Amendment proposals 2026, wave 2
Seven proposals published; voting until 1 December 2026.
2 February 2026
GCU 2026 Update webinar: slides
More than 750 participants; materials available on demand.
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