Railroad Safety Award to Be Presented to Amtrak’s John Bernal

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 mediarelationschicago(at)amtrak.com.  For North Carolina related media inquiries, call 202-906-3860, or email mediarelations(at)amtrak.com.