Amtrak Employee Wins NARP National Safety Honor

Release #07-08—May 2, 2007

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Washington, D.C.—The Burch Family and the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) announced today that J. Wes Wilkins of Wilmington, Delaware has won the 2007 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.  “We are delighted to be able to bestow it this year on a railroad employee who has shown diligence, enthusiasm, and innovation,” said Bette Burch.

A thirty year railroad veteran, Wilkins works for Amtrak in its Wilmington maintenance facility.

Wilkins was chosen for his commitment to and promotion of rail safety. In his role of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE) Safety Liaison, he has influenced the work practices of almost 500 employees in Amtrak’s engineering department.  During Wilkins’ tenure, his unit has seen a 63 percent reduction in employee injuries while increasing the quality and quantity of work performed.

Wilkins is also credited with helping to implement the Switch Exchange System (SES) that constructs and installs high-tech, high-speed panel switches in new interlockings throughout the Northeast Corridor, enabling safe and efficient high speed service throughout the Corridor. This process has served as a model for other types of trackwork, and commuter railroads now contract with Amtrak for this service, specifically requesting Wilkins’ expertise.

“Wes has an exemplary record of safety achievement and represents the inspiration and dedication that have contributed significantly to the success of our company in reducing safety risks and injuries,” said Amtrak President and CEO Alex Kummant.

The Burch family established the $1,000 award in 1994 and has sponsored it ever since. More information on the award, and past winners, can be found here on our website.

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 22,000 individual members.