Interview with Mr.
Silviu Lache, Director general of Jassy CF Rail Region
Railway Journal: Railway is characterized lately by a series of mutations, which often bring about changes from positions of some persons, as it is also your case. Our magazine accustomed our readers to offer them the possibility to know the new directors from the rail region, a good occasion, in the same time, in order to find out news and other different aspects "up to date" from the rail activity … First of all tell us with what kind of thoughts are you approaching Director General position of Jassy Rail Region.
Silviu Lache: Due to the fact that my parents were railway employees- my father, head of station and RCR operator, and my mother was a cashier at the voyage agency - I spent my childhood and my adolescence near the fascinating universe that was represented in my mind in point of a railway station. My assignment as rail region director meant for my family and me an existential corollary. The honor to hold such a position is doubled by a responsible engagement to solve in an efficient way various aspects related to the activity development. These reasons motivated me in problem solving by a sustained work, together with my team that I have formed for the rail region management. In the same time, I focus the intellectual and physical resources in order to provide optimal operability of this complex system, sometimes being in contradiction, which is represented by CF Iasi Rail Region.
R.J.: Which do you consider to be the main role of a rail region director and how do you see, generally, this position approach?
S.L.: As a rail region director I represent the image
of a formal leader notion. But, in the same time, I think that the main role of the one
that holds this position is to demonstrate that he can be an informal leader, the
decisions, the reaction speed, his working style and also his attitude being the factors
which impose a sentiment of respect to the subordinates and, eventually, a recognition
from his superiors. In my opinion, besides the decisional aspect, responsibility and
representation assumption, the rail region director must be initiation factor, for the
coagulation and management of an efficient management team. The system implies the
existence of a complete and sometimes rigid job description for each employee, but only
for the management positions can create it, adjust it, and why not, improve it according
to his way of confronting reality. Within CF Iasi Rail Region we selected a young
management team. Thus, the head of the Traffic Division is 34 years old, the one from
Tracks Division is 44 years old, and Equipment Division is 38 years old, and the Head Unit
of Safety Circulation Rail Region Department is 45 years old. Then, besides the concerns
to increase work efficiency, we would want to develop the competence and creativity, by
joining the years of service with the experience accumulated within Railway- representing
the competition with creativity, youth's trump.
Another aspect that I watch and which represents a "red wire" of the rail region
activity is to make it more and more efficient, to optimize it and to permanently search
for new profit sources, taking into consideration the generous real estate that we
administrate. Either me, as well as the subordinate personnel we obey unconditioned some
major coordinates safety circulation, fluency and traffic regularization, civilized travel
conditions, according to XXI century, for the passengers, as well as for the employees,
work protection and environment protection. After taking over the rail region management
performed some checking actions from station to station, all over the activity area, and
we requested to be applied a personal concept, which we call DOC. Namely:
"discipline, order and cleanness". We consider that it had the desired impact,
because its effect is seen presently.
R.J: Having an overall view on the rail region, tell us which are the works that are presently developing that you consider most important?
S.L.: In this context, I would like to remark the fact
that, due to the hardworking activity developed in the past years and which is still going
on presently, the current year we have seven works which have been started in the past
years and 15 new works, according to the foreign financing contract with BEI no. 20690.
Because they refer to the embankments consolidation, also implying large scale works and
considerable amounts of money, these works have a special importance for us and we treat
them as it is required. Thus, there are approaches "hot spots", among which we
can mention: Km 41+ 600 48 + 960 on Buhaesti Roman section, 119 + 750, 120 + 950, on
Darmanest-Dornisoara section, 2 + 590 3 + 600, 8 + 350 8 + 450, 13 + 100 13 + 800, 31 +
100 300, 45 + 190 45 + 360, on Ilva Mica Floreni section, 6 + 100 7 + 500 and 19 + 357
750, on Podul Iloaiei Harlau section, 377 + 850 378 + 200 and 482 + 100 435 + 180, on
Ploiesti Vicsani section. In order to avoid boring the readers with these numbers and to
cover to much space, I can tell you that important works are developing during this year
in order to provide the safety of the tracks and rehabilitation of the equipment almost on
all the sections of Iasi CF Rail Region.
However, there is a novelty element: the current year, after four years of hiatus, there
have been allocated new funds in order to continue the works on new section between Harlau
Flamanzi. Originally, there have been allocated 45 billion lei per year, for the next
three years being proposed 200 billion per each year, fact that encourages us to say that
in 2004 we will inaugurate this new railway section which has special economical and
social implications. Another encouraging fact is approaching again the design for the
electrification of the main line 600, namely Tecuci Iasi, which after being finalized will
reduce travel duration to the Capital with an hour.
Finally, I can state that CF Iasi Rail Region personnel waits as a Christmas present to be
put in operation the fiber optics telecommunication network on the main lines, fact which
will imply international standard data communication and transmission.
R.J.: Iasi CF Rail Region has plenty of historical monuments in the railway stations, and not only: what can you tell us about their maintenance and preservation? Have you thought to organize rail tourism activities on certain sections, which will offer the possibility to visit the historical monuments, and special sights that can be seen?
S.L.: Indeed, it is true that the rail region that I
manage has the privilege to own a few railway stations which are considered as historical
monuments, and, implicit they are representative places for the Romanian people culture.
From the past years there have been started rehabilitation works, more likely said
restoration works for unique railway stations: Iasi, Burdujeni, Targu Frumos or Vaslui,
where the skills of the constructors are mixed with the skills of the restaurateurs.
Gothic style railway stations, also in flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance style , that from
Iasi which took over aspects from the architectonic style of Dodges Palace from Venice
(Italy) have grown old, to gain cracks and to give up. Designers and constructors skill
enhances the intact preservation of the original shapes and its modeling towards the
present times, as we can see Iasi station. I want to mention that the general manager
Mihai Necolaiciuc has been the main factor for the stations and tracks rehabilitation
within our rail region, fact which motivates me once more to be as my predecessor.
These restorations cost, of course, but it would be a pity to destroy beautiful things
that were made with a lot of care and love.
As for the wonderful area of Bucovina, from Paltinoasa to Ilva Mica is a mirific area,
where the Creator put his hand with kindness, we have an impeccable nostalgia train which
circulates in accordance with the tourists agents will. Routes as Vama Moldovita or Gura
Humorului Ilva mica represent a pleasant sight foer every traveler.
We also privileged that we have in administration Bucovina Hotel from Vatra Dornei. Built
quite recent, modernized in various stages, this hotel will offer, no matter which is its
current classification, only two stars, a superior comfort, with its panoramic elevator,
apartments elegance, rooms' personal features and the cooking from Bucovina famous for its
mushrooms with sour cream, trout with sour cream, or home made bilberry brandy
representing an attraction for foreigners.
Current modernization and service improvement represent a clear sign of success. The
canteen from Vatra Dornei, which will be inaugurated next month, as well as the fast-food
from Campulung Moldovenesc, where the best patisserie baker from Romania works, are a few
of the trumps which attract the clients, among whom we meet many rail personnel, wishing
prompt, quality services and reasonably prices.
R.J.: We usually ask ou\rt interlocutors if they have a motto that leads them through their life and professional activity. Which is your answer for such a question?
S.L.: Knowing so well that nothing is obtained without thorough and hard work, for 10-12 hours a day, six days a week, work motivated by ambition and self-determination, but also owning a bit of luck and hope, my motto would be "ad astra per aspera" [ to the skies (you reach) by hard work].
Silvia Mirea
Curriculum Vitae
Name and Surname: Lache Silviu-Gheorghe
Date and Place of Birth: 16.03.1956, Piatra Neamt
Marital Status: married, two children
Education: Construction Faculty, Railway, Roads and bridges Section Iasi,
graduated in 1981
Specialized in:
Ultrasonic defectoscopy - Bucharest 1987
New technologies in construction of railway without rail joint - Bucharest 1989
Construction and behavior of railway without rail joint - Construction Faculty Iasi - 1989
(post university courses)
Professional activities:
- 1981-1984 - Technical Compartment, L2 Barlad Section, CF Iasi Rail Region;
- 1984-1989 - Technical Compartment, Iasi L1 Section, CF Iasi Rail Region;
- 1989-2000 - Chief of Workshop for Bridges and Metal Decks, CF Iasi Rail Region;
- 2000-2001 - Head of Iasi L2 Section, CF Iasi Rail Region;
- since 22.03.2001 - Rail Region Director - CF Iasi Rail Region.
