UIC - The worldwide association of railways (dedikált példány) [antikvár]

FOREWORDYOSHIO ISHIDAUIC CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIRMAN EAST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY (EJRC)THE ROLE OF UIC TODAY FOR RAILWAYS THAT PROVIDE A HIGH LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTIONUIC, which will celebrate its 90lh anniversary in 2012, has a varied and unique history.UIC was born during a new European regime after the First World War. Thereafter, it soon began to evolve with the participation of some national railways outside Europe, but the Second World War and the following Cold War made UIC limit its activities within Western Europe.After the late 1980s, amidst concerted efforts to establish the integration of the European railway market, UIC once again developed its activities as a European platform for rail technology. And, in the process of its development, UIC gained new members from Asia, Middle-East, Africa and America to expand the scope of its activities from "European" to "Global". However, it was not so easy for UIC, a European association by nature, to grow into a Global association. Additionally, especially in the last 10 years of the 20,h century, there have been various changes in the railways, not only in Europe but also in countries throughout the world. UIC has had to tackle many difficulties. At last, UIC made a new start as a Global platform for rail technology on 1 April 2009.This was the time UIC changed drastically. The day I became UIC Chairman was the very day UIC made a new start. As a contributor to one of the pages of UIC's history, I would like to introduce parts of my speech to the "historical" UIC General Assembly that was held on 31 March 2009."Please allow me to express my respect for all of you here today for having made the decision on the new steps for UIC. For more than a year now, there have been numerous difficulties for UIC and I recognize that these have been inevitable, not simply chance events. Until now, the majority of the UIC members have been representatives of each member country's national railways. As privatization and liberalization progressed in global railway markets during the past several years, however, the composition of the membership underwent significant changes. Concomitant with these changes came significant differences in the interests of members, from broadly national interests to the more specific interests of railway companies, their employees and shareholders, and community residents. UIC will not be able to adequately respond to the changes unless UIC can change itself. Tomorrow on April 1, UIC will make a new start. I would like to work to the best of my ability as UIC chairman to tackle a series of challenges in order to transform UIC into an organization that can truly win all the UIC members' trust.""The world is in the midst of an economic recession that has never been experienced before. Furthermore, global environmental problems are becoming increasingly serious. Against this background, I need not mention that expectations for railways are rising significantly. We must once again have a strong awareness of such perceptions of the times. We should also work actively to provide information about the effectiveness of railways in helping to overcome current global environmental problems. This is exactly what the world expects of UIC, and the issue that UIC staff and members must tackle with all their power."Reviewing the progress of UIC's activities over the last two years, UIC has actively provided information concerning the present superiority of the railways in global environmental issues. However, the surrounding situation of the railways has changed since two years ago. It is true that railways have attracted much attention as the most environmentally-friendly mode of transport in countries throughout the world, but this alone does not mean that the use of railways will increase.Now, more than ever, the railways' urgent efforts are required. It means that for rail to be chosen as the mode of transport that offers a high level of customer satisfaction, the railways have to make efforts to be the mode of transport that always provides ultimate safety and high reliability. Accordingly, it is necessary for UIC to engage itself actively in providing information on the approaches of the railway companies to improve customer satisfaction. I am sure that this is the most important among the roles which UIC is now required to play.UIC is an International Organisation in which railway companies and railway research organisations participate voluntarily. About 200 UIC members have shared bonds of friendship and resolved their various worries and problems, and they are continuing to address challenges in many areas and move forward towards the future.I sincerely and strongly hope that the information provided by UIC will contribute significantly to the development of each of the UIC members and also to the sustainable development of railways in countries throughout the world. And I believe UIC will reach its 100,h anniversary with greater successin 2022./k f\THE WORLDWIDE ASSOCIATION OF RAILWAYS | 7