• The International Union of Railways – translated as Union Internationale des Chemins (UIC) – is an international rail transport industry body.
• It was formed in 1922 .
• Headquartered at Paris.

Functions:

• Promote rail transport globally.
• Facilitate cooperation among railway members.
• Develop and publish solutions to railway system issues.
• Advocate for the railway sector.
• Promote technical harmonization and interoperability between railway systems.

Establishment:

• Driven by the need to address incompatibility issues arising from the independent development of railways across Europe in the 19th century.
• Established through the collective effort of European railway companies.

The UIC’s focus on standardization helped ensure compatibility between railway infrastructure, rolling stock, and operational procedures. This facilitated smoother cross-border rail traffic and trade.