Red Phone rides again this Saturday morning seeking the answer
to callers’ queries. Some technical glitches seemed to have erased
Red Phone’s voice-mail, but fear not the Crimson Crusader can still
hear you. Have a question, need an answer call the Red Phone,
always waiting, always online, always at 635-9219.
Red Phone rides again this Saturday morning seeking the answer to callers’ queries. Some technical glitches seemed to have erased Red Phone’s voice-mail, but fear not the Crimson Crusader can still hear you. Have a question, need an answer call the Red Phone, always waiting, always online, always at 635-9219.
“I wanted to thank you for the Red Phone on Hold article ‘Train tracks going nowhere.’ I called John Bromley the director of UP’s public affairs this morning and he told me there was a crew headed out there this morning and they would assess the track damage and that something would happen. So I did get a hold of him and thank you for publishing his office number and cell phone number – that’s the one he answered – and I will keep following up on it to see what we get with it. I also e-mailed him and told him about the article in the paper so I’m sure he’ll be getting more calls on it. I want to thank you again and hopefully everyone’s calls will get this crossing fixed.”
Red Phone hasn’t given up hope that UP will do the right thing and fix the troublesome tracks on Highway 25 just north of the countyline, but movement on the issue has been slow since Red Phone first started writing about the bumpy tracks almost a year ago. And with each passing week, the crossing on Highway 25 appears to worsen. Here’s an excerpt from Red Phone’s latest conversation with Bromley yesterday:
RP: Hello John… can you give me an update on the railroad crossing at Highway 25 north of Hollister?
JB: “There’s no new developments. We’re well aware of the condition of the crossing and we agree it’s in rough shape. We’ve spent a lot of time talking about that crossing.”
RP: But, have you sent anyone out to look at the track?
JB: “I’m not sure on that, but I believe someone has looked into that.”
RP: In January, you indicated that UP was moving quickly on this, but nothing has happened. Why is that?
JB: “It was (moving quickly). But then the flood in Southern California diverted our crews down south. A lot of things have interfered with this.” Bromley said some of the hang-ups have included key employees on sick leave, transferring employees out of the area and other problems he did not elaborate on.
RP: So what’s the problem now?
JB: “It’s a matter of getting the money together and a crew together to work on the repair.”
RP: When will that happen?
JB: “I don’t know. I can look into that on Monday.”
RP: I’d appreciate it if you could do that and let me know. Do you think this is a priority for UP?
JB: “I don’t think so, if it was it’d be done by now.”
RP: Have you been hearing from readers about the track?
JB: “I’ve had some phone calls and e-mails.”
Let’s send him a whole lot more. Call John Bromley, ask him to fix the tracks.
The Red Phone runs weekly in the Free Lance.
