Russian and international media last week reported on the professional development of Mr Vladimir Yakunin, currently Chairman of Russian Railways and also Chairman of UIC – the International Union of Railways.
First of all, I wish to pay tribute, both on my personal behalf and on behalf of the international railway community, to the decisive and constructive role that Mr Yakunin played in the reorganisation of UIC back in 2008/2009 and also since his election as Chairman of the association in 2012 to develop its recognition and position on the world stage.
Mr Yakunin will always be welcome at our headquarters whenever he has the time and opportunity to visit us.
At the same time I also wish to congratulate and greet Mr Oleg Belozerov, who was appointed by Mr Medvedev as the new President of Russian Railways. In this capacity he is also supposed to replace Mr Yakunin in his current mandate of UIC Chairman. This will be confirmed at our next General Assembly on 1 December and meanwhile Mr Michele Elia*, currently Vice-Chairman of our association, is the acting Chairman of UIC. They can both be assured of my personal support and of the very constructive contribution of the UIC staff and all members of the association.
Our work programme until the end of the year is very busy in many domains and places worldwide, and all members can be assured that everything will be done to fulfil these responsibilities and objectives to the benefit of our community.
* Ing. Michele Elia has been Amministratore Delegato (CEO) of Ferrovie dello Stato from May 2014
Ing. Michele Elia, who holds a degree in Electro-Technical Engineering, is a licensed engineer by the Board of Italian Professional Engineers. He began his career at FS in 1975 as an Electrical Systems and Plant Inspector and from there his work included carrying out surveys of operations and maintenance of signalling, electric traction, lighting and electromotive systems and plants in the Bari Infrastructure Regional Offices. Among other tasks, he was responsible for the technical undertaking of the Rome-Naples high speed line as Head of Technical Direction of RFI from 1998 – 2006.
Chief Executive Officer of Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) – the infrastructure branch of Italian Railways (FS Italiane) – since 2006, Michele Elia has held a number of high-level responsibilities within UIC’s international railway cooperation system, successively as the UIC ERTMS Platform Chairman and until now UIC Vice Chairman and Chairman of UIC Europe. He is also Chairman of Corridor D EEIG, Member of LTF (Lyon Turin Ferroviarie) SAS Management Board, Member of ERA Administrative Board.
(Source: FS Italiane)
