CER begins European Year of Rail with new executive director

CER begins European Year of Rail with new executive director

For the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), the year 2021 marks a change of leadership. Its new executive director, Alberto Mazzola, has officially entered office.

He was unanimously elected by the CER General Assembly in September 2020. He will be steering the association through challenging times amid the ongoing COVID-19 and climate crises, at a moment when the huge potential of railways is generating great interest for achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal, the CER said.

As executive director of CER he will represent Europe’s rail sector to European institutions and position rail as the backbone of the EU’s Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, amidst the opportunities provided by the 2021-2027 multi-annual financial framework together with Next Generation EU.

He will also focus in the immediate future on the current COVID-19 challenges, working hard with members to regain customer trust, said CER.

Mazzola said: “I am honoured to be joining the European rail effort at such a pivotal moment. I will work to support, with the relaunch of Europe after COVID-19, the full recovery of passenger and freight transport by rail, as well to promote new policies to boost rail.

“With the 2021 European Year of Rail, we have a real opportunity to show the many benefits railways can bring as employers and providers of sustainable mobility services. A shift to rail makes good sense for our economy and our planet and with the right policies in place, we can help EU citizens and businesses make sound mobility choices.”

For more information visit www.cer.be

18th January 2021