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The
International Union of Railways, otherwise known as UIC was founded in 1922.
Its objective is to standardize and improve on the Railways with special regard
to international traffic. The UIC is also responsible for ensuring
co-ordination and unity of action amongst the International Railway
Organisations.
2. The
principal European Railway Administrations, as also a certain number of
administrations outside Europe are members of the UIC.
3. Since 1950,
the UIC has set-up 4 new offices, namely,
a) The Office for Research and Experiments (ORE) for the pooling of
means
on technical research;
b) Information and Publicity Centre of the European Railways (CIPCE)
for
publicity and public relations regarding the railway activities;
c) International Railway Documentation Bureau (B.D.C.) which
facilitates
exchanges between the railways, and which publishes
jointly with the
"International Railways Documentation" in four
languages;
d) The Railway Films Bureau (B.F.C.) which enables information to be
exchanged in that field.
4. The UIC
brings out certain publications on matters of railway interest.
The
publications comprise:
i) A monthly magazine entitled "Railway International"
brought out by the
'Joint Executive Committee for
Information' of the International Railway
Congress
Association (IRCA) and the UIC.
ii)
A document entitled "Quarterly Railway Statistics,"
showing comparative
results of the principal data in relation
to the preceding year;
iii)
"International Railway Statistics," showing yearly statistics
of route
andtrack miles, rolling stock, traffic, receipts,
expenditure, finance, staff
and accidents.
5. The Indian
Railways are associated with the International Union of
Railways since 1957. The
Union recently celebrated its golden
jubilee. These celebrations have a special
significance for India
because on this occasion the UIC held a Colloquium on
'sharing of
Railway Knowledge' which was presided over by the Chairman of the
Indian Railway Board, and was attended by a number of
representatives from
Railways of both developed and developing
countries all over the world.
6. The Indian
Railways constitute Asia's largest and the world's fourth
largest railway
system. They are also the world's second biggest
state-owned railway system with
route length of over 60,000 km. Of all
the members of the UIC, the Indian
Railways have the biggest route
kilometrage. The Indian Posts & Telegraphs
Department feel privileged
in bringing out a commemorative stamp to mark the
golden jubilee of
the International Union of Railways.
7. The
stamp design is based on an art work by the well-known French
artist George
Mathieu. Famous as the promoter of Lyrical Abstraction
of art free from all
classical restrictions and customs, Mathieu has held
exhibitions of his work in
many countries. He is also the innovator of
Tachism and has specialised in
tapestry and porcelain designs.
TERMS OF
SALE :
Overseas
orders, if placed with the P & T Department, for the supply of the new stamps
and First Day Covers, should be addressed to the Indian Philatelic
Bureau, G.P.O., Bombay, and be accompanied by a bank draft or crossed cheque
encashable in India.
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