Polar Express suspends service
There were no Polar Express horns to ruin the quiet at Johanna Bowen’s Capitola home on Thursday night, because earlier this week, the Federal Railroad Administration ordered the train to stop over safety concerns.
In a statement to KION, a spokesperson for the Federal Railroad Administration wrote, “Earlier this week, FRA found that the 6-miles of track the Santa Cruz Polar Express train operates on do not meet the safety standards for passenger trains. Once the tracks meet these standards, the Polar Express can resume again. Once in operation, the railroad must follow all other federal safety rules.”
Bowen used to walk the tracks near her home in Illinois.
“You are in the middle of cornfields and there is tracks, and we used to go walk the tracks. And, I mean, it was just one of the many things to do,” Bowen said.
And when there are no trains running, she now sometimes follows the rails here.
“Lots of rust, sometimes, actual railroad parts that have popped up, that are lying there,” Bowen said. “In places where tracks are being maintained, they are constantly supervised, and crews go over them. That doesn’t happen there because they are unused. They seemed that way to a walker, like they were not ready for prime time.”
Bowen even wrote a letter to the Capitola City Council in August asking the city to put a stop to what she called a “travesty.”
“Please stop any forward direction for the ridiculous rail revival. We don’t need this intrusion in our lives, obstruction to our access to our homes near the rail crossings and the sound pollution in addition to the current horror-filled skies,” Bowen wrote.
And even though there may be some disappointed kids, Bowen says the train stoppage doesn’t have to ruin the holiday.
“There are a million places to meet Santa. Santa is everywhere. There are Santas on top of the mountain if you want to take the other train,” Bowen said.
Polar Express says it’s working with federal agencies and other groups to repair the tracks and it’s offering full refunds to those who already bought tickets.
The rides are expected to resume on December 10.
As of Thursday afternoon, the company’s website listed train service on Dec. 1-4, 7-11 and 14-23.
Iowa Pacific Holdings operates Polar Express trains throughout the United States and Canada.
