Dr. István Bárány, Chairman of CER Cargo Holding Zrt.’s Supervisory Board, the grand
old man of the railway industry, celebrated his 80th birthday on 28 November. On this special
occasion, in recognition of his indisputable and unrelenting efforts made for the private
railway operator, CER’s staff decided to name its Transmontana locomotive of registration
number H-CER 610 102 after him.
So far István Bárány has passed 61 years, the average age of a person, in the railway
business since his first contact with it at high school. He started his railway studies at the
Institute of Railway and Commercial Officer Training Institute. After graduation, he became
a training officer, then a commanding officer, and later Head of Commerce at Hungarian
Railways and GySEV. Working his way up the hierarchy he held the position of
Head of Unit then Deputy Head of Department. Meanwhile, he had acquired the degree of
specialised economist and international specialised economist and finally a PhD. In the
subsequent period he also worked in various positions, serving as an assessor, Head of the
Personal and Freight Transport Unit, Deputy Head of the Department of Commerce, Deputy
CEO for Trade at Hungarian Railways and finally he became CEO at
MÁVTRANSSPED.
Hungary’s accession to the EU offered opportunities to private railway companies
so Pista proved as the founder and manager of CER his ability to make the most of his experiences
acquired at Hungarian Railways under market conditions.
In recognition of his work, he received innumerable awards and decorations, including
the István Sipos Prize in 2011, which he is really proud of. And now, at his 80th birthday,
an engraved copper plate announces that locomotive 610 102 is named after him.
Happy birthday!