Draft:Unique Rail Vehicle Identification System (URVIS) Number

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  • Comment: I can see no valid reason to split this out of the Luxembourg Rail Protocol draft, it is almost certainly not notable on its own. This draft spends a lot of words telling us almost nothing about the subject and displays the hallmarks of AI writing. Trainsandotherthings (talk) 21:20, 29 September 2025 (UTC)


The Unique Rail Vehicle Identification System (URVIS) Number is a global, unique, and permanent identifier.[1] for all types of railway rolling stock. It was introduced by the Luxembourg Protocol to the Cape Town Convention,[2] an international treaty designed to streamline and reduce the cost of private sector financing for railway assets. The URVIS system provides a uniform method for identifying rolling stock regardless of its location or operational use.

Format  and allocation

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The URVIS number is a 16-digit code,[3] composed of 15 random numbers plus a check digit[4] and is issued by the International Registry on demand upon payment of a fee.[5]

The URVIS does not contain any information about the operational characteristics of the rolling stock. Once an URVIS number is assigned to a specific piece of equipment, it is permanently linked to it and can never be altered or duplicated.[6]

Under the UN Model Rules on the Permanent Identification of Railway Rolling Stock,[7] the URVIS number must be permanently marked on the rolling stock when a security interest is registered. This is typically done with a plate measuring approximately 15 cm by 10 cm,[8] which must be fixed to both sides of the equipment.

Purpose and Function

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The Luxembourg Protocol, which entered into force in contracting states on March 8, 2024,[9] established the International Registry[10] which is based in Luxembourg. URVIS numbers are issued on demand through an automated process, and the Registry enables creditors to register security interests through an uninterrupted online service.[11]

While there is no legal requirement for all railway rolling stock to have an URVIS number, it is a prerequisite for registering a security interest at the International Registry. The system has several practical applications, even when registration is not required.

  • Securing Ownership: Even if an operator owns the rolling stock outright, registering a notice of sale at the International Registry using the URVIS number provides public evidence of ownership. This can reduce disputes over ownership when the rolling stock crosses international borders.
  • Tracking and Tracing: The URVIS number facilitates lifetime tracking of rolling stock, which is particularly useful for equipment that moves across international borders.
  • Preventing Fraud: For creditors, registering a security interest with an URVIS number serves as a recognized safeguard against fraudulent claims, even if the debtor is not in a contracting state[12]
  • It applies to all categories of railway rolling stock, irrespective of gauge, operational life, physical nature, or other specifications.[13]
  • The URVIS number is distinct from other railway identifiers, such as the running number or the manufacturer's serial number.

It is also possible for manufacturers, keepers, or operators to purchase a block or sequence of numbers to be assigned as needed. Components of rolling stock can also be given separate URVIS numbers, although the Protocol only covers rolling stock as an entire asset.

References

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  1. ^ "Unique Rail Vehicle Identification System planning underway". Railwaygazette. Archived from the original on 2025-09-23. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Luxembourg Protocol. Convention on international interests in Mobile Equipment on matters specific to railway rolling stock" (PDF). UNIDROIT. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-09-19. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  3. ^ "URVIS – facilitating rolling stock financing. An identifier to ensure the financial traceability of rolling stock assets". UIPRAIL. Archived from the original on 2025-09-23. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  4. ^ "The URVIS number under the Luxembourg Rail Protocol" (PDF). Rail Working Group. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-09-23. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  5. ^ "Fee Schedule of the International Registry of Interests in Railway Rolling Stock" (PDF). International Registry of Interests in Railway Rolling Stock. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-12-13. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  6. ^ "The Luxembourg Protocol. What do you need to know". Watson Farley & Williams. 21 November 2023. Archived from the original on 2025-09-23. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  7. ^ "Model Rules on the Permanent Identification of Railway Rolling Stock" (PDF). UNECE. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-09-23. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  8. ^ "Big changes ahead for railway rolling stock identification". RailFreight. 6 March 2023. Archived from the original on 2025-09-23. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  9. ^ "The Luxembourg Rail Protocol enters into force" (PDF). OTIF. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-12-03. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  10. ^ "The International Registry of Interests in Rolling Stock. About us". Archived from the original on 2025-09-19. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Registry User Manual" (PDF). International Registry of Interests in Rolling Stock. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-09-23. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  12. ^ "Revisions Committee on the Model Rules on the Permanent Identification of Railway Rolling Stock: proposals to amend to the UN Model Rules on the Permanent Identification of Railway Rolling Stock" (PDF). Rail working group. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-09-29. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  13. ^ "The URVIS number under the Luxembourg Rail Protocol" (PDF). Rail Working Group. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-09-23. Retrieved 23 September 2025.