THE International Union of Railways (UIC) has confirmed the election of East Japan Railways (JR East) chairman, Yuji Fukasawa, as its chair for the 2026-27 term. Stefano Antonio Donnarumma, CEO of Italian State Railways (FS), has been elected as vice-chair.
Fukasawa has more than four decades of experience in the rail industry, joining Japanese National Railways (JNR) in 1978. He became president and CEO of JR East in 2018, moving to the post of chairman in 2024.
Described as a vocal advocate for decarbonisation, Fukasawa has championed clean energy investment projects at JR East, including pioneering applications of hydrogen and other initiatives to reduce CO₂ emissions across rail operations. He has also contributed significantly to major international projects, such as the Mumbai - Ahmedabad high-speed line in India.
UIC says that Fukasawa has consistently supported the development of rail skills through comprehensive training programmes in operations, maintenance and customer service, and has promoted a strong safety culture throughout JR East.
Fukasawa succeeds Dr Alan Beroud, CEO of Polish State Railways (PKP), as UIC chair. Donnarumma, who was appointed FS CEO in June 2024, succeeds Mohamed Rabie Khlie, CEO of Moroccan National Railways (ONCF).
