Ivan Leontievich
Paristy
1930-2005
Ivan Leontievich Paristy was a prominent Soviet and Russian railway worker who led the Moscow Railway from 1978 until 1999. He became an icon of this critical transport hub, as he was the only leader of the Moscow Railways who managed it during both the Soviet and the post-Soviet eras. Ivan Leontievich was born in a family of railway workers in Bakhmach, in the Chernigov region. From a young age, he displayed an interest in the railway industry. After graduating with honours from the Dnepropetrovsk Institute of Railway Engineers, Paristy started his career at the Bryansk branch of the Moscow Railway, quickly mastering various professions along the way. In 1962, he assumed the position of head of the Bryansk branch and, in 1968, was appointed as deputy head of the Moscow Railway. In 1978, Paristy assumed the role of head of the Moscow Railway and promptly began addressing critical tasks related to infrastructure development. One of the most significant achievements was the successful organization of heavy freight transportation and the launch of a record-breaking freight train weighing 10,000 tons in 1980. Under his leadership, large-scale reconstruction projects were carried out at Moscow railway stations, including Kazansky, Yaroslavsky, and Kievsky. These projects significantly improved the functionality and aesthetics of the capital’s key transport hubs. In addition to the renovation of railway stations, Paristy also focused on modernizing the infrastructure and expanding the railway network. He also worked to lengthen platforms and increase the capacity of stations to provide more comfortable travel for passengers. Under his leadership, Moscow Railways held a leading position in passenger transportation in the USSR. The company transported more than 1.5 billion passengers annually, accounting for a significant portion of the total passenger traffic on the network. In 1997, under his guidance, the first encyclopedic album about Moscow Railway was published. It became a significant source of information on its development and has been republished several times. He was also an active mentor for young professionals, who later became key figures in the Russian railway industry. Paristy attached great importance to interaction with railway workers and passengers. He held personal receptions regularly and promptly responded to their complaints and suggestions. His goal was to improve the working and living conditions of railway employees. During the difficult 1990s, when many workers faced financial difficulties, Ivan Leontievich’s efforts were focused on ensuring regular salary payments for railway workers. This became an important aspect in maintaining stability in the railway sector. For his many years of dedicated service, Ivan Leontievich received numerous awards and honorary titles. Among them was the prestigious title of Honorary Citizen of Moscow, a testament to his significant contributions to the development of the railway industry. His work has left an indelible mark on the history of the industry, and Ivan Leontievich remains an iconic figure as a respected leader and mentor in the field.
Address: Moscow, Krasnoprudnaya St., 20
