Interview Spotlight: Alexandre Savard, Director of Business Development for Rail, GIRO

What is your perspective on the COVID-19 crisis and its impacts?

The COVID-19 pandemic has sent shock waves across the transportation industry, revealing not only the importance of public and rail transport, but also some fragility. GIRO has been in close contact with many of the 300 public transport and rail operations we support worldwide to discuss their current situation and how they are looking beyond the crisis. All have been affected, but response strategies differ from one country to the next depending on how the pandemic has evolved. Nonetheless, we can expect some lasting changes to the way services are planned and operated. I believe that, despite the sweeping impacts of the current crisis, there is an opportunity to improve some practices and even rethink how passenger rail adapts to changing circumstances.