After nearly 125 years UITP is still a very dynamic association. Among the activities to celebrate this anniversary, we are pleased to present here a concise timeline that places UITP evolution in a broader context of historical and scientific developments.
Every month, a 10-year period of history will be covered, split into three areas:
‘On the world scene’ describing major events in world history and scientific progress
‘Highlights in transport’ describing major innovations or developments in the transport world
‘UITP highlights’ describing the life of our association
Of course, selecting items is always subjective and our aim is not to be exhaustive but to give a quick and pleasant overview of our association’s life.
We hope you will enjoy this journey through history that you can also find in the section ‘Once upon a time’ in PTI magazine.
CONTACT: Thierry Maréchal, Information Centre Senior Manager, email
Officially recognised birth on 17 August 1885 of the "Union Internationale de Tramways et Chemins de fer d'Intér
êt local - Internationaler Strassenbahn- und Kleinbahn-Verein". 63 companies from 9 countries are interested in the
project, including 55 operators. 44 delegates participate in the first meeting in Brussels during which Michelet presents for the first time the objectives of the new association
Highlights in transport
Birth of the Association Internationale du Congrès des Chemins de fer (AICCF) in Brussels - Gottlieb DAIMLER and his
partner Wilhelm MAYBACH design a precursor of the modern petrol engine which they fit to a two-wheeler, considered to be the
first motorcycle
On the world scene
The Berlin Conference, also called "Congo Conference", regulates European colonisation and trade in Africa -
Louis PASTEUR successfully tests his vaccine against rabies
UITP highlights
The 1st Congress chaired by M DREWKE (Berlin-Charlottenburger Strassenbahn) takes place in Berlin, with 110 participants from
6 countries. Gustave MICHELET (Tramways Bruxellois) is elected as the first President with J FISCHER-DICK (Grosse Berliner
Pferde-Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft) as Vice-President and Fernand NONNENBERG as the first Secretary General. The first elected "
Management Committee" comprises MICHELET, FISCHER-DICK, CULIN, HAMELINK, SCHALD, NONNENBERG and GERON. Rules are adopted as
well as the official languages, French and German. Brussels selected as official location of the association. Exhibition of
tramway equipment at the Architectenhaus (Berlin)
Highlights in transport
Karl BENZ patents the first successful gasoline-driven automobile, the Benz Patent Motorwagen (built for the first time in
1885)
On the world scene
Heinrich Rudolph HERTZ demonstrates the existence of electromagnetic waves
UITP highlights
2nd Congress in Vienna chaired by Dr. KOPP, President of the Wiener Tramways Gesellschaft, a new member. 74 delegates
participate. First project of standardised statistics presented. The association now has 248 members. Two communications are
presented, the first one dealing with electric traction for tramways (Brussels as an example).
Highlights in transport
Gottlieb DAIMLER patent related to motor for automobiles
UITP highlights
The 3rd Congress, held in Brussels, brings together 119 delegates. Two meeting chairmen are chosen, C de BURLET, General
Director of the Société Nationale de chemins de fer vicinaux, and Victor DESPRET, member of the board of the Soci
été générale de chemins de fer économiques.
Highlights in transport
Karl BENZ sells the BPM (Benz Patent Motorwagen) in the late summer of 1888, making it the first commercially available
automobile
On the world scene
Opening of the PASTEUR Institute
UITP highlights
4th Congress in Milan
Highlights in transport
First ground level current collection tramway circulates in Budapest
On the world scene
Inauguration of the Tour Eiffel in Paris, the main attraction of the World Exhibition held in the city that same year
UITP highlights
The 5th Congress is held in Amsterdam and brings together 75 delegates (the association now has 312 members). The session
Chairmen are Mr VAN KERKWIJK, Mr SCHADD (Director of the Amsterdamsche Omnibus-Maatschappij) and Mr Van HASSELT
Highlights in transport
The City and South London Railway (today part of the Northern Line) is the first deep-level underground railway ("Tube
") and is also the first to be operated with electric traction - Cl}ment ADER flies the ƒole, the first self-propelled
flight in history
UITP highlights
The 6th Congress takes place in Hamburg
UITP highlights
The Congress planned in Budapest is postponed to 1893 due to the cholera epidemic
Highlights in transport
Rudolf DIESEL applies for a patent for his compression ignition engine, the Diesel engine, and receives it in 1893
On the world scene
Thomas EDISON patent for a two-way telegraph
UITP highlights
The 7th Congress held in Budapest sees the creation of a new category of member, the Honorary members. The Union has 319
members in 19 countries including the most "exotic" ones at this time: the Philippine Islands, Australia and the USA.
UITP highlights
During the 8th Congress held in Köln (Cologne), the important decision is taken to hold the congress every two years
instead of on an annual basis due to work overload at the secretariat. The next Congress will take place in Stockholm in 1896
Highlights in transport
Birth of the "Vereins Deutscher Strassen- und Kleinbahn-verwaltungen" (today's VDV association) - Karl BENZ designs
the first truck, with some of the units later modified by the Netphener Company, becoming the first buses in history - The
brothers André and Edouard MICHELIN equip an automobile (l'Eclair) with removable pneumatic tyres for the first time after successful experiments on bicycles.
On the world scene
Auguste and Louis LUMIERE display the first moving picture in Paris - Guglielmo MARCONI creates a practical system of wireless telegraphy
