UP officials apologize for Polar Express gaffe with $2,500
(The following story by Marco Santana appeared on the Daily Herald website on May 11, 2010.)
CHICAGO Christmas season might be months away but the Glen Ellyn Park District received an unexpected gift last month.
In an effort to make up for a gaffe that angered many residents during the yearly "Polar Express"-themed train ride from Glen Ellyn to Elburn in December, Union Pacific officials gave the district a check for $2,500.
Superintendent for Recreation Kathleen Esposito said the money will go toward the program's expenses and that the gesture was unexpected.
"They promised nothing like this would ever happen again," she said. "They said it was restitution for the extra work we had to go through."
On Dec. 12, 135 people were left out in the cold when a train that was supposed to be the Polar Express passed them by. The train's conductor mistakenly told those waiting that the actual Christmas-themed locomotive, which features a visit from Santa Claus and Christmas caroling, would arrive about 20 minutes later. Instead, holiday cheer turned into a horrible day when the train never arrived.
Officials said then that it was the first time they can recall anything like this happening during the program's 13-plus years.
Metra officials later apologized for the gaffe and offered refunds and a future replacement trip.
Esposito said the meeting with Union Pacific Vice President of Government Affairs Michael Payette allowed the district to give rail officials a more personal look at the train ride.
"We walked them through the whole process and the point of the Polar Express," she said. "The biggest role is the conductor who lets them on the train. It's important the conductors know that these kids are looking up to them. It's the simple things that make the kids and parents happy."
Esposito said she was satisfied that rail officials took the mix-up seriously.
"They said the conductor felt really bad," she said. "They never got word that they were to let us on. That's part of the problem. (The booking) is administrators booking with administrators. We're not the conductors."
UP officials apologize for Polar Express gaffe with $2,500
Esposito said she was satisfied that rail officials took the mix-up seriously.
"They said the conductor felt really bad," she said. "They never got word that they were to let us on. That's part of the problem. (The booking) is administrators booking with administrators. We're not the conductors."
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
I imagine his kind, gentle Uncle Pete was very understanding, tu.
