Railroad Safety Award to Be Presented to Amtrak’s John Bernal
Special Recognition given to North Carolina State Rail Division’s Paul Worley
Release #10-04—April 27, 2010
NARP contact: Sean Jeans-Gail, 503-888-5738
Amtrak: media contact information at the bottom of this release
Washington, D.C.—The family of Dr. Gary Burch and the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) announced today that John Bernal, a Mechanical Foreman for Amtrak in San Antonio, has won the 2010 Dr. Gary Burch Memorial Safety Award. The award, which honors individuals who have significantly enhanced rail passenger safety, is sponsored by the family of Dr. Burch, who died in a 1991 passenger train derailment in South Carolina. The Burch family will also be presenting a special plaque to North Carolina State Rail Division’s Director of Engineering & Safety, Paul Worley.
Bernal, an employee of many years for Amtrak’s operations in San Antonio, has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to passenger and employee safety. An active member of Amtrak’s Texas Safety Committee for many years, he has made significant contributions to the culture of safety in the areas under his supervision.
“According to those who know him well, he has made safety his mission—in, on, and around the trains in his station” said Michael Burch, son of Gary Burch. “What distinguishes John in his field is his personal and tireless pursuit of improving safety for passengers and employees.”
Bernal has gone above the call of duty on numerous occasions, using his days off to install lighting on platforms to eliminate nighttime hazards, and welding and securing gates to seal off access to unprotected track crossings.
“I’m very proud to say that nobody steps on this property without wearing the proper safety gear to inspect the train, and it is a direct result of his influence,” said Amtrak Trainmaster Ginger Brown, who nominated Bernal. “John never misses an opportunity to bring safety concerns to the attention of managers, while simultaneously providing the solutions… It’s no coincidence that the Mechanical Department has gone injury free for many years on his watch.”
The Burch family established the $1,000 award in 1994 and has sponsored it ever since. A list of previous winners can be found here on NARP’s website.
“A National Leader in Railroad Safety”
The Burch family will also be presenting a plaque of recognition to Paul Worley, for the work he has done as Director of Engineering & Safety for North Carolina’s Department of Transportation’s (NC DOT) Rail Division.
Worley was nominated by NC DOT Secretary Eugene Conti, who praised the work Worley has done—specifically, the development of the Sealed Corridor Initiative which has “efficiently and dramatically increased the effectiveness of highway-railroad crossing warning systems.” Through this and other initiatives—including Traffic Separation Studies, near- and long-term safety improvements for railroad crossings, and partnering with freight railroads to improve privately-owned railroad crossings—the number and severity of collisions between rail and highway traffic in North Carolina has declined, reducing injuries and fatalities.
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About NARP
NARP is the only national organization speaking for the users of passenger trains and rail transit. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger rail in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 18,000 individual members.
About Amtrak
As the nation’s intercity passenger rail operator, Amtrak connects America in safer, greener and healthier ways. Last fiscal year (FY 2009), the railroad carried 27.2 million passengers, making it the second-best year in the company’s history. With 21,000 route miles in 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian provinces, Amtrak operates more than 300 trains each day to more than 500 destinations. For Texas related media inquiries, call 312-880-5390, or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). For North Carolina related media inquiries, call 202-906-3860, or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Railroad Safety Award to Be Presented to Chairman James Oberstar
Release #10-05—April 27, 2010
Contact: Sean Jeans-Gail, 503-888-5738
Washington D.C., April 27, 2010 — The family of Dr. Gary Burch and the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) announced today that House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar of Minnesota, will be presented with a special Dr. Gary Burch Memorial Safety Award. The award, which honors individuals who have significantly enhanced rail passenger safety, is sponsored by the family of Dr. Burch, who died in a 1991 passenger train derailment in South Carolina.
Chairman Oberstar (D) was the primary sponsor of the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2008, which directed the Federal Railroad Administration to “make safety in railroad transportation the highest priority in carrying out its duties.”
“There is a significant part of this legislation that ensures that family members of victims receive timely and appropriate support in the event of a tragedy; for those who have lived through it, this is monumental” said Michael Burch, son of Gary Burch. “Congressman Oberstar is a hero to everyone who rides the trains.”
The Rail Safety Enhancement Act mandates the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop a long-term strategy for improving railroad safety, and requires railroads to implement positive train control, an electronic system of monitoring and controlling train movements to prevent collisions in the event of engineer failure. The law was enacted in October, 2008, with the impetus for final action by Congress coming from the tragic train collision in Chatsworth, California, on September 12, 2008.
“When I became Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in January 2007, I pledged that the Committee’s agenda would center on three principles: enhancing safety and security, investing in our infrastructure, and addressing the twin challenges of rising energy costs and global climate change,” said Rep. Oberstar. “Enactment of the Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2007 was a critical step forward in increasing safety standards for the rail industry, and that law will go a long way in making rail travel safer for rail workers and the general public. I am very honored to receive the Dr. Gary Burch Memorial Safety Award, because safety always has been and will continue to be my number one priority.”
Oberstar devoted 179 hours of hearings to safety, security, and emergency response during the 110th Congress.
NARP is the only national organization speaking for the users of passenger trains and rail transit. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger rail in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 18,000 individual members.
Robert J. Stewart of Fort Myers, Florida, Elected NARP Chairman
For Immediate Release (#10-06)
April 30, 2010
Contacts: Ross Capon, Sean Jeans-Gail
202-408-8362 (Capon cell 301-385-6438)
The National Association of Railroad Passengers’ Council of Representatives, meeting this week in Alexandria, Virginia, elected Robert J. “Bob” Stewart as the association’s Chairman. He succeeds George L. Chilson, who had served three two-year terms and did not run for re-election. The chairman serves as a volunteer.
Stewart previously was Vice Chairman—Mission Accomplishment. He has been a member of the Association since 1970, joining the board in 2002 and becoming vice-president (later vice-chairman) in 2004.
He looks forward to further expanding the Association’s influence, saying, “I am particularly interested in growing the association’s membership, continuing to expand strong grass roots efforts across the country, developing future leaders for our association and getting a greater diversity of members on our Council.”
A native of Mountain Lakes, NJ, Stewart holds a bachelor of business administration from Baldwin-Wallace College (Berea OH). He served in the U.S. Marine Corps 1962-68. He and his wife Virginia live in Fort Myers, Florida. He is retired from ARCO Chemical Company where for 29 years he had various sales and marketing positions, including sales and development manager for Asia. Earlier, he held sales and training positions at Procter & Gamble, 1965-69. He holds a Florida Real Estate license.
A past president of the Tennessee Association of Railroad Passengers and member of the Tennessee State Rail Passenger Advisory Council, Stewart belongs to numerous rail advocacy and historical organizations, including the Florida Coalition of Rail Passengers, on whose board he sits.
He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Southwest Florida Symphony and sings in the orchestra’s chorus. He has guest conducted the orchestra’s Christmas Pops concert. He is an elder with Westminster Presbyterian Church and has served as a director of the Crown Colony Home Owners Association (both Fort Myers).
Chilson led the organization since 2004. He spearheaded a reorganization under which the Board of Directors was sharply downsized, an expanded Council of Representatives was created, title of the organization’s volunteer leader was changed from president to chairman, and long-time Executive Director Ross Capon became President and CEO. This week’s election was the first since the reorganization took place in late 2008.
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