Vehicle Keeper Marking Code (VKM) – Introduction

The 7th General Assembly of OTIF in November 2005 unanimously decided to include the EU regulation in the TSI OPE (Operation) Annex P concerning vehicle numbering, adapted suitably, in the COTIF technical Appendices (F and G). Part of this regulation is the creation of a 5 letter code for the Vehicle Keeper Marking (VKM) as defined in the mandatory UIC leaflets 438-1 to -4.

The OTIF Committee of Technical Experts decided at its first meeting on 4-6 July 2006 to ask the OTIF Secretariat and European Railway Agency (ERA) to negotiate in order to find a joint solution as soon as possible for the administration of the Vehicle Keeper Marking codes, ensuring their uniqueness.

An agreement between the OTIF Secretariat and ERA has been achieved. ERA and OTIF form together the "central body" specified in Annex P and will publish a common list of registered VKMs on their websites. ERA will register vehicle keepers who have their registered place of business in a State which is a Member of the EU or EEA. OTIF will register vehicle keepers in the other OTIF Member States, and – on a voluntary basis - in States that are not members of OTIF.

The Guidelines for Registration of a Vehicle Keeper Marking Code (VKM) are guidelines common to ERA and OTIF. They specify the setting up and administration of a joint register of railway vehicle keepers and their VKM codes according to Annex P of the Traffic Operation and Management TSI.

The preliminary VKM list will be published on 6 July 2007. This preliminary list will be subject to revision as it is in the process of being checked in some Member States to resolve duplications. The first VKM list is considered to be published in September 2007.