SICF/Rail Accords

The Rail Accords

The Epsilonian Republic and the Federated States of the New World, striving for interconnectivity, free movement and understanding between the two MPOs, hereby agree to The Rail Accords.

I. Mutual Recognition

1. The signatories recognise the Government of the Federated States of the New World, as established by the Constitution, and the Government of the Epsilonian Republic, as established by the Constitution, as the respective official governments of the Federated States of the New World and the Epsilonian Republic respectively.
2. The signatories agree to recognise any legal successor to the above governments as the legitimate government of the signatories' respective MPOs.

II. Definitions

1. “FS” refers to the Federated States of the New World
2. “ER” refers to the Epsilonian Republic
3. “GSM” refers to the monthly meeting of MRT staff, or General Staff Meeting
4. “ISM” refers to the monthly MRT staff meeting that handles infrastructure and events
5. “JRC” refers to the Joint Rail Committee.
6. “Project Coordinators” refers to the two members appointed to see the project through.
7. “Line” refers to a general railway route including the main corridor and any stations, stops, branch lines and other railway infrastructure as well as the duty of managing, maintaining and expanding the line.

III. Structure

1. The JRC shall be jointly chaired by two Project Coordinators, a member from the FS and a member from the ER.
   1. These members shall be nominated by the administrations of both the FS and ER and may be replaced at any time by their respective administrations.
2. Any member of the ER or FS may join the Committee.
3. A third-party Discord server may be set up, where members of the Committee will be under the jurisdiction of their respective countries. The JRC may also opt to use their respective channels in the FS and/or ER Discord servers.
   1. All members of either country must be able to access the channels designated for the JRC in each Discord server.
   2. Should the JRC opt to use a third-party Discord server, all channels must be open to members of either country. The JRC may, at their discretion, restrict access to certain administrative channels for non-members.
4. Société Internationale des Chemins de FER (SICF), or Chemins de FER shall be a government-owned corporation formed by the merger of FSRail and EpsilonRail, that shall own and operate all lines built by the JRC, unless otherwise agreed upon by both parties.
   1. Ownership shall be evenly split between the Government of the Federated States of the New World and the Government of the Epsilonian Republic.
   2. The corporation shall be under the direct administration of the JRC, who shall have the sole authority to make decisions on the behalf of Chemins de FER.
   3. The two Project Coordinators shall both serve as Chief Executive Officers of Chemins de FER, and all members of the JRC shall also be employees of the corporation.
   4. Rail lines must have a clearly designated manager and deputy manager when they are first built, who take on the duties and responsibilities associated with the rail line.

IV. Construction

1. Rail Lines should be designed to connect as many FS and ER cities with each other and with outside cities.
2. Rail lines should, barring any geographical or permission-related obstacles, take the shortest practical route
3. All trains shall be constructed with a single livery - which may have rules on how it may be changed - and this main livery and all other special liveries must be bilaterally accepted.
4. Rail Lines shall preferably be constructed at-grade or elevated, and take care to protect the natural beauty of the environment around it.
5. SICF shall allow any member to start or build a town near or at the rail line; build level crossings, bridges, or tunnels across the rail (within reason); and should be open to change the rail line to better adapt to the town around it and to build a rail station at the town. All rail lines which are not underground shall have this information clearly marked with signs and books.

V. Resolution for Disputes, Suspension, and Termination.

1. Should a dispute between the two signatories to this treaty arise, every effort shall be made to settle it peacefully with a mutually acceptable solution.
2. Either signatory may unilaterally suspend the terms of the treaty for at most thirty days. During the suspension, every effort should be made to come to a mutually acceptable solution to the cause of suspension.
3. Either signatory can terminate this treaty in writing to the other signatory, providing at least three days advance notice to the other signatory. Such termination will not constitute an act of war or hostility by the terminating MPO in and of itself. Termination of the treaty may occur without prior suspension of the treaty.
4. Should this treaty be terminated, all railway lines shall be given completely to the designated manager, and if necessary, deputy manager, and any other property owned by SICF which is not associated with a line specifically shall be given to the owner of the nearest town.

VI. Ratification, Deposit, and Clarification.

1. This treaty shall be ratified by the completion of the respective legal process in each MPO.
2. Both signatories shall publicly record the complete text of this treaty in its appropriate record-keeping place.
3. At any time, the signatories may meet to clarify the terms of this treaty through memorandums of understanding, which shall be posted alongside the treaty.