UIC Carries on its Mission with a New Management

International Union of Railways (UIC), the most important world organization of railway profile, reunites railway companies, infrastructure administrations, transport railway operators and other entities involved in the transport activity on the railway, summing, presently, at the beginning of the year 2002, 154 members, from the five continents.
The main objective of UIC is to correlate the actions of all its members with the tendencies presented on the market and in the society, to collaborate with them having the common purpose declared in order to make the railway one of the most efficient and most appreciated mode of transportation.
On the occasion of the last meeting, which took place under the aegis of the International Union of Railways, at the end of November 2001, in Paris, there was elected the new management of the Executive Committee of this important international organization for the next two years.
Etienne Schouppe (SNCB - Belgium) has been assigned as president of UIC for 2002 - 2003, and Hartmut Mehdorn (DB AG - Germany), Masataka Matsuda (EJR - Japan) and Marton Kukely (MAV - Hungary) will be the vice-presidents for the same period of time. Mr. Etienne Schouppe has succeeded in the highest position Mr. Miguel Corsini (RENFE - Spain), who had the endorsement of UIC members during 2000 - 2001. Mr. Phillipe Roumeguere has been also reelected for another mandate, as UIC executive manager.
As you are well aware, in the last two years Romania - represented by the general manager of CFR SA - has been assigned as vice-president of UIC. Further on, CFR SA, as active member, will take part at all the reunions organized by the International Union of Railways, and within the dedicated projects and the special missions will also participate the representatives of the other Romanian railway companies.
During the current year, among the main events in UIC "agenda" is also the organization, on January 28, in Paris, of the seminar Reduction of the traveling duration on the conventional lines. Also, during 23-25 October, in Madrid will take place the forth edition of the World Congress on the high speed, "Eurailspeed 2002", UIC co-operating for the organization with CCFE, UNIFE, FIDEC and RENFE GIF.
Among the activities that are developed by the International Union of Railways we can mention:
- The elaboration of the norms, the prescriptions and the recommendations that aim the improvement of the international traffic;
- The interventions related to all the international bodies at world level in order to provide the representation of the railway system;
- The coordination of some projects, mostly in the field of international passengers and freight transports, of the infrastructure administration and of the research;
- The enhancement of the exchange of information and experience;
- The conclusion of agreements with international organizations and the co-operation with the organizations specialized on railway matters, and also on transport matters, generally.
The projects and studies necessary for the improvement of the international railway transport are coordinated by the specialized commissions organized on the sectors of activity (Passengers, Freight, Infrastructure), having the help of certain specialized commissions (Research, Rolling Stock, Finance, IT). They are also in collaboration with the departments within the General Department. The concerns of UIC are situated in a double perspective, a pan-European and a world perspective.
The East-West Mission and the East-West Division co-operate in order to accelerate the integration of the "railways" on European plan. High Speed Direction is in charge with the achievement of the technical and economical studies related to the high-speed transports and the promotion of the pan-European network. The World Division is in charge with the development of UIC activities on world plan according to the orientations established by the World Executive Council. The European Institute for Railway Research (ERRI) is in charge with the accomplishment of the researches and studies required by the analysis bodies of UIC within the contracts concluded.
The General Department of UIC proposes the strategic orientations, coordinates the tasks of the study bodies and provides the distribution of the decisions between the members of the union. It also provides other functions as we can mention for example the correlation of the information (documentation, statistics) and the communication of other entities.
Presently, UIC represents the railways in the relationships with over 40 intergovernmental bodies and the professional associations. Additionally, it represents the railway sector, having the status of an observer, besides the Organization of the United Nations (ONU). UIC put the basis of some specialized working groups, which have the purpose to provide the cooperation in the matters that concern only a limited number of members.
Otherwise, UIC also co-operates closely with a number of international railway bodies - the Community of the European Railways (CCFE). The main objective aimed by this collaboration is represented by the improvement and the development of the assembly of the railway system within the complex European policy. We also have to mention the major task of CCFE which is the study, from the point of view of the railways, of all the aspects related to the actions and intentions of the European Union that aim the field of transports, to analyze the problems issued from these situations and to elaborate, then and when it is necessary, the solutions for their enforcement.

Silvia Mirea