DB CEO Rüdiger Grube is elected as new CER Chairman

Libor Lochman and DB CEO Rüdiger Grube

The CER (the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies) General Assembly has elected Deutsche Bahn AG (DB) CEO Rüdiger Grube as the Association’s new Chairman. Meeting in Berlin at the German Ministry of Transport, the Association also welcomed Ukrainian Railways and Eurail Group as new partners.

CER Executive Director Libor Lochman and DB CEO Rüdiger Grube

Rüdiger Grube is succeeding former ÖBB CEO Christian Kern who stepped down in order to become Chancellor of the Republic of Austria. The mandate will have immediate effect and last until the end of 2017, the term of the current Management Committee mandate (2016-2017). SBB CEO Andreas Meyer, CER Acting Chairman since May 2016, will resign from this role.

The other Administrators of the CER Management Committee (MC) for the period 2016-2017 will be Guillaume Pepy (SNCF, Vice-Chairman), Andreas Meyer (SBB, Vice-Chairman), Roger Cobbe (ATOC), Ilona Dàvid (MÁV), Jo Cornu (SNCB), Crister Fritzson (ASTOC), Pavel Krtek (ČD), Renato Mazzoncini (FSI), Dušan Mes (SŽ), Pablo Vázquez Vega (RENFE), Marc Wengler (CFL), Oliver Wolf (VDV), Mirosław Pawłowski (PKP), Bernard Guillelmon (BLS AG, Associated Member), and Manuel Queiró (CP, Associated Member).

The CER General Assembly also welcomed two new partners – JSC Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways), which is pursuing reforms aimed at achieving compliance with the EU rail acquis, and Eurail Group, the organisation dedicated to the marketing and management of Eurail and Interrail products, available to non-European and European residents respectively and synonymous with flexible rail travel throughout Europe, connecting both countries and passengers alike.

CER Chairman Rüdiger Grube said: “I am honoured to have been chosen to serve as Chairman of the CER. We will continue to work with all the CER members – regardless of their size – to speak with one strong voice, foster a foundation of mutual trust in our collaboration with the EU institutions, and strengthen the rail sector.”

CER Executive Director Libor Lochman said: “The cooperation with Christian Kern has been intense these last years, throughout the difficult period leading up to the completion of the Fourth Railway Package. The Association will now profit tremendously from the vast experience of its new Chairman Rüdiger Grube; he has been following our work as an active Member of the Management Committee for many years. I am looking forward to working with him on strategic priorities aimed at improving the competitive position of passenger and freight rail.”