RailStaff Award winners 2013: Part I

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Following the RailStaff Awards event on October 5, Global Rail News is taking a look at each of this year’s worthy winners.

Level crossing hero wins Rail Safety Person of the Year

A Network Rail employee who helped a member of the public who was left seriously injured after a collision on a level crossing in South Yorkshire has been recognised with a national industry award.

Rail Safety Person 2013 - Chris Roberts – Network Rail
Chris Roberts

Chris Roberts, who is based at Hudson House in York, was on the scene at Thorne South Station on January 9 this year checking out plans for a new footbridge when he saw a train hit a pedestrian.

Chris, who works on the National Level Crossing Closure Programme for Network Rail, not only supported emergency services in treating the victim but he immediately took steps to build a temporary footbridge to ensure there was no repeat of the harrowing incident.

Within 72 hours, the temporary bridge was designed and on January 22 it was in place.

On October 5, Chris was presented with the Rail Safety Person of the Year Award during the annual RailStaff Awards event at Birmingham’s ICC.

Chris, 35, from Garforth in Yorkshire, said: “Massive thanks to the design team; this award is down to the team.

“The lady survived, which was a miracle, and for the next two weeks it was full on 24/7 to get a temporary footbridge in and take out that dangerous crossing”

He added: “I had a great team backing me up.”

Tom O’Connor, managing director of awards organiser Rail Media, said: “Chris Roberts rose to the challenge of helping an injured pedestrian at Thorne South and then immediately doing something about the safety issues involved.

“Safety remains the number one priority of the industry and Chris’ actions pursuant to the near-tragedy demonstrate this with forceful eloquence. This is a well deserved award.”

Pino De Rosa from award sponsor Bridgeway, said: “The most important thing is that we deliver what we deliver but in a safe way. The work these guys do maintains the safety and integrity of the railway.

“The industry is dependent on the drive of the people that are in it and events like this are just positive. It sends out a good message to everyone in the industry to step up and make a difference.”

Eddie honoured for bringing clean water to African villagers

A train manager from Dorset has won an industry award for bringing clean drinking water to more than 100,000 villagers in Africa.

Eddie Martin, who was presented with the David Maidment Award for Charity at the RailStaff Awards 2013 on October 5, has raised over £150,000 to build more than 30 wells in the West African nation of Burkina Faso.

Award for Charity 2013 - Eddie Martin - Cross Country [new]
Eddie Martin
Following a visit to the country in 2006, Eddie, a member of Pinehurst Community Church in Ferndown, Dorset, found that one group of villagers had to walk four miles every morning just to get fresh drinking water.

After raising the money to sink a well in the village, Eddie, 66, decided to set up his own charity to generate the money needed to build wells in more villages around the country.

The project takes its name from his late wife, Myra, a school teacher, who was killed in 2005 as she drove to work.

Eddie, who is originally from Glasgow but now lives in Bournemouth, works as a train manager for Cross Country.

After being presented with the award, Eddie said: “I am delighted.

“With Myra’s Wells we have now completed 31 [wells] and are about to do three more.”

Keith Harding from Heathrow Express, the sponsor of this year’s award, said: “I go to a lot of awards but this one means the most because it’s personal, it’s people, it’s what holds the industry together.”

Editor of RailStaff magazine Andy Milne said: “The amount of energy Eddie puts into this is phenomenal. It is also an inspiring example of someone putting faith into action, providing direct help for people who most need it.”

Cross Country worker wins Graduate of the Year Award

Bryony Govan of Cross Country has won this year s Graduate of the Year Award at the rail industry’s national RailStaff Awards 2013 in Birmingham.

Since arriving at Cross Country, Bryony, a graduate management trainee, has successfully re-organised onboard cleaning for the operator.

By bringing the sub-contracted cleaning teams in house, Bryony has both saved CrossCountry money and improved standards across the fleet.

Newcomer Graduate Apprentice 2013 - Bryony Govan - Cross Country Trains [new]
Bryony Govan
As well as developing the initial concept, Bryony led the transition, handling union negotiations and recruiting 60 new cleaners at CrossCountry cleaning sites across the UK.

Bryony, 31, who completed her undergraduate degree at Aberystwyth University, said: “I’d like to thank Amanda Hopkins and Malcolm Cotterell. They recruited me and supported me. Thanks, also, to everyone who voted for me.”

Bryony lives in Derby but work out of Birmingham.

Amanda Hopkins of Cross Country said: “Bryony has been a great graduate. She is enthusiastic, professional and has a desire that pushes everyone to do things better. She has a lovely personality and is very approachable.”

Asif Ahmed, commercial director at Rail Media, said: “The advantages to the rail industry of people like Bryony are hard to put a figure on. Not only has she boosted the business prospects of a leading train company but she has successfully influenced the careers of 60 people who are now an integrated part of the railways.

“Ask passengers what they want after punctuality and a seat and its cleanliness every time.”

George Renshaw from award sponsor LPA Group Plc said: “We support the drive of people within the industry because it’s so important that we’ve got people attracted to the industry.

“It is really rewarding when we have people like Bryony.”

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