Welcome and Opening of the Convention
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Two years have passed since the last convention was held in Salzburg in September 2011 and today I am delighted to welcome you here in Graz for the 19th international convention – a Workshop – and thank you for your interest in taking part. The great success of the last convention in Salzburg with over 500 attendees from around 60 countries and all continents was overwhelming and therefore we have endeavoured to meet your expectations in the selection of our topics so that we can uphold the high standard.
Our general theme chosen some years ago: "Optimising the Wheel/Rail System" continues to accompany us and it can be assumed that the liberalisation introduced in 2004 and the repeatedly extended regulations – as well as their consequences – will continue to provide us with topics for discussion.
In 2009, for example, at the Workshop also held in Graz we concentrated on the interaction between vehicles and track; in 2011 in Salzburg we focussed on traffic-based infrastructure; and for 2013 we have practically a continuation of that theme: looking at innovation to achieve higher efficiency. Of course, underlying this is the problem as always of high costs and the constraints which have to be overcome by the rail operators and their owners.
This year's event in Graz is also an occasion for a special recognition. The first international convention held by the ÖVG's Working Committee on Railway Technology (Infrastructure) was also held here in September 1971 and focussed on the topic "High speed and permanent way". This beginning eventually developed into the series of ÖVG conventions which we are carrying on this year and hopefully will continue to organise in the years to come.
One name is closely linked to this series of conventions: University Professor Dipl. Ing. Dr. Roman Jaworski, who celebrated his 90 th birthday earlier this year in good health and vitality. He was not only the co-founder of this series of conventions, but he developed them further using his profound knowledge and his experience; even today he makes suggestions and gives us ideas. And I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his input. For the future we wish him above all the very best, continuing creativity and a zest for life.
Finally I would like to express my sincere thanks to all those who worked so hard to organise and implement this Workshop. At the same time I also thank the speakers for finding the time to be here and for their efforts in compiling their presentations. Finally, ladies and gentlemen, may I wish you an interesting day here in Graz full of lively discussions.