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The International Association of Public Transport turns 125!See the new issue of PTI magazine ‘UITP celebrates 125 years and looks to the future  The first international platform for the public transport sector was born on 17 August 1885, when fifty representatives of the principal European tramways operators came together in Brussels. The international organisation for tramways and light railway companies was thus founded, at the initiative of Gustave Michelet of Brussels Tramways and Joseph Fisher-Dick of Berliner Tramways. The convening letter started as follows: “Tramway and local railway companies are part of the same industry but have very few relations with one another. Many administrative and technical questions have been dealt with in very different ways by the different companies, without different companies, without the expected results. The need for engineers and specialists to learn from the experience of colleagues is of the highest interest to all tramways administrations.” Although UITP was created as an association of transport companies, a special class of members drawn from vehicle manufacturers, engineering firms and contractors was a valued part of UITP from the earliest days. In addition, individual engineers and transport journalists also had a place in the association from the outset.  Over the years UITP has adapted its structure to become more inclusive of the entire public transport sector, deepening the dialogue between industry, transport companies and authorities and allowing all mobility actors to work together in a spirit of partnership within the association. Since its foundation, UITP has also enlarged its mission to become a consolidated network of all mobility actors, the catalyst for new business opportunities, the global centre of knowledge and knowhow, the worldwide advocate for public transport and sustainable mobility, as well as the promoter of innovations and forward-looking solutions. Today UITP represents over 3,200 urban, local, regional and national mobility actors from more than 90 countries on all continents. While UITP’s main office has always been located in Brussels, Belgium, in recent years different regional divisions have been created worldwide, together with the establishment of eleven liaison and regional offices. CONTACT: Minna Melleri, email Tel +32 2 661 31 96
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