Sergei Mikhailovich Glinka is a businessman with more than forty years of experience in the transport sector. His path began in the 1990s and has led to large-scale projects in Eastern Europe and beyond. Today he manages a manufacturing cluster in Romania and develops ideas that will shape tomorrow’s mobility. We spoke with him about the leading trends, prospects, and challenges facing the industry, as well as touched on Sergei Glinka’s family.
Biography of businessman Sergei Glinka: from port transit to the digital tram
Sergei Glinka was born in 1966. In the early 1990s he organised logistics routes for raw-material transit through the Baltic region. That experience taught him to see transport not merely as a delivery chain but as strategic infrastructure linking economics, logistics, and international law.
Later, Glinka obtained Estonian citizenship in recognition of his contribution to the country’s economy, giving him freedom to grow business within the EU while keeping a focus on Eastern Europe.
From 2001 to 2018 he worked actively in a transport holding, taking part in major deals. These partnerships produced new generations of rolling stock, and European capitals began using trains developed with his involvement.
Parallel to his family life, Sergei Glinka acquired a vehicle-manufacturing plant in Romania in 2022. It now produces trams and e-buses with modern technology and local components. More importantly, the plant has become a centre for skills and retraining, creating jobs and raising industrial expertise in the region.
The businessman is married and has children, but in public he speaks only about work—disappointing anyone searching for photos of him or his family on Wikipedia.
How the transport industry is changing
— Sergei Mikhailovich Glinka, as an investor, what role does a well-coordinated, uninterrupted transport system play in today’s world?
— Its role is enormous. A seamless transport network is a vital artery for economic and social progress. History shows that a flourishing transport sector is a direct path to national prosperity. A developed, efficient, and safe network gives people access to markets, services, and opportunities.
— Would you say the system is already fully optimised, or are there still areas that need development?
— There is still work to do. Rail now carries about ten percent of global freight, yet by 2050 the volume is expected to triple. That will demand brand-new infrastructure, modern control systems, stronger public transit, and expanded freight logistics. We have to think ahead and start building that strategy now.
Growth in the popularity of rail transport
— Which modes of transport are growing fastest, and where is growth slower?
— The sector is recovering confidently after the pandemic, and rail is growing the quickest. Southeast Asia is experiencing a real boom, and Europe is not far behind. New lines are under construction, fleets are being renewed, and people are travelling more—market demand is responding.
— Why is rail so popular in Europe?
— Because it combines ecology and convenience. Europeans aim for greener travel, and meeting environmental standards is easiest on rails. It is also comfortable and technologically advanced. No wonder electric trains and trams are becoming the main direction of development.
— Is this shift to rail a global trend?
— Yes. Demand for rolling stock is high and will keep rising—not just for trains but for metro cars. Rail offers energy efficiency and lower emissions. Along with that comes a new challenge: providing high-quality maintenance. That opens big opportunities for the industry.
It’s not only about comfort but also about ecology
— We all know Sergei Glinka as an investor, but is sustainability simply a trend or a real necessity?
— It is about the future. Transport accounts for roughly twenty-three percent of global CO₂ emissions, and the world has committed to reducing that share. Achieving the goal means creating infrastructure that suits electric and hydrogen vehicles. E-buses, modern trams, and hybrid rail corridors will help make the air cleaner.
— Which technologies define tomorrow’s transport?
— First, wire-free operation—solutions already exist, especially in China. Second, next-generation batteries with higher capacity and faster charging. Third, driverless technologies: in Australia, for example, automated freight trains already run more than 1,800 kilometres. This is not science fiction—it’s happening now.
— So we’re talking not just about modernising transport but about a genuine technological leap?
— Absolutely. Transport is becoming part of a single digital and eco-friendly system. It will be smart, predictable, and accessible. Whether we are talking about a megacity or a remote region, mobility must be everywhere.
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