Excerpt from Napa Valley Register
http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/wine-train-ceo-apologizes-to-women-booted-from-train/article_8b8a4f56-c4d9-5e49-a27d-1e2e6a6151aa.html
The apology was released as the news spotlight has increasingly shone on the Wine Train. After the Register and other media outlets reported on the dispute Sunday afternoon, readers shared the story extensively – often using the hashtag #laughingwhileblack – and many viewers attacked the women’s removal as racially motivated.
Initially the Wine Train put out quite a different message on FB, later removed it. Bad PR led to their apology.
"Soon after the incident, the wine train posted a statement on Facebook asserting that the women had become unruly once the conflict escalated.“Following verbal and physical abuse toward other guests and staff, it was necessary to get our police involved,” the statement said. “Many groups come on board and celebrate. When those celebrations impact our guests, we do intervene.”
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-black-women-kicked-off-napa-wine-train-20150824-htmlstory.html
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
If the group was so loud that they had to be asked to tone it down, they were too loud. I don't think Napa Valley markets the train as a party train.
That the group lacked the civility to respect their fellow passengers reflects badly on them.
Once again, the perpetrator becomes the "victim."
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
tree68group lacked the civility to respect their fellow passengers
Russell
But, according to eyewitness reports, other folks were behaving in the same fashion yet they were not thrown off the train. Why is that? This is not a black tie dinner train, it's tourist train serving wine and sold as a good time.
What I find interesting is that, according to reports, just one person complained about the book reading group. A group that was not intoxicated and had not physically abused anyone (which was, the NVWT admits, a false accusation by the railroad; why'd they post that?). So to satisfy that one person, 11 others were marched off the train through six occupied cars into the apparent arms of the police (they were not arrested nor charged with any crime). Also, the St. Helena PD has publically stated that the railroad has never called them for help in escorting passengers off one of their trains before. Why now?
Perhaps the NVWT should have a quiet car where somber stick-in-the-mud folks can drink their wine in absolute silence. But no slurping noises or out you go!
Paul A. Cutler III
So where exactly was the racially motivated action? Are they claiming that if the group had been predominantly white, that there would have been no objection to their excessive exhuberance? Or are they saying that a white group would have been reprimanded, but allowed to continue the journey?
And what proof, beyond their own racially motivated accusations, do they have that race was a factor?
I have white authority get all snooty with me all the time, and I'm not black. Some people are just power tripping control freaks, if they're not making some person's life miserable, they are unhappy. Why so many blacks seem to think they should be immune to this just because of their skin color? if we are truly all equal, then this priviliged victimology crud needs to go away right now!!
Paul3 But, according to eyewitness reports, other folks were behaving in the same fashion yet they were not thrown off the train.
But, according to eyewitness reports, other folks were behaving in the same fashion yet they were not thrown off the train.
Convicted one, if we believe the eyewitness reports to which Paul refers, then whatever action the railroad took against this group that they didn't take against the other folks who were behaving in the same fashion, if those other folks were a different race, could be racially motivated.
I remember a conductor in a semi old fashioned business class, that is an Amcafe with 2-1 seating, not a REAL old fashioned business class-club car-parlor car heritage equipment with galley and 1-1 seating, telling me someone had complained because the conductor had allowed laughter.
Patrick Boylan
Free yacht rides, 27' sailboat, zip code 19114 Delaware River, get great Delair bridge photos from the river. Send me a private message
Paul3 Also, the St. Helena PD has publically stated that the railroad has never called them for help in escorting passengers off one of their trains before.
Also, the St. Helena PD has publically stated that the railroad has never called them for help in escorting passengers off one of their trains before.
Not quite according to the most trusted source in news
Wine train spokesman Sam Singer... On average, Singer said, individuals or groups are asked to get off the wine train once a month for various reasons. Police spokeswoman Maria Gonzalez said it was the first time IN MEMORY that the wine train had sought assistance from the department escorting off a LARGE GROUP. Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20150825_ap_ca23d5cebe5d417084a5f5ed3123534a.html#uIzSTPYLV5DevR2j.99
Wine train spokesman Sam Singer...
On average, Singer said, individuals or groups are asked to get off the wine train once a month for various reasons.
Police spokeswoman Maria Gonzalez said it was the first time IN MEMORY that the wine train had sought assistance from the department escorting off a LARGE GROUP.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20150825_ap_ca23d5cebe5d417084a5f5ed3123534a.html#uIzSTPYLV5DevR2j.99
This sounds like a "you had to be there" type of thing.
What's offensive behavior to one is not to another.
Back in the early days of our wine/beer trains, we ran three in a row - one on Friday night, one late Saturday afternoon, and one Sunday afternoon. The difference in the clientele was very noticable.
We only run those trains on Friday nights now, and it's definitely an end-of-the-week, blow-off-steam crowd. The well-heeled would not be happy.
I recall seeing in one of the reports on this incident that the RR suggested they had placed the group in the wrong car - apparently they have cars for the more boisterous groups. I can see why a "reading club" might be thought of as a rather sedate group when making such assignments ahead of the event.
Unless someone can step up and show a pattern of such behavior on the part of the RR (or certain RR personnel), I'm leaning toward this being a one-off event.
Sounds like the expected reactions on here as well. However to seek the truth look at wanswheel's post. It included remarks by the NVWT CEO that confirm that the reactions of the train staff were excessive, contrary to the rail spokesman's comments.
tree68 This sounds like a "you had to be there" type of thing. What's offensive behavior to one is not to another. Back in the early days of our wine/beer trains, we ran three in a row - one on Friday night, one late Saturday afternoon, and one Sunday afternoon. The difference in the clientele was very noticable. We only run those trains on Friday nights now, and it's definitely an end-of-the-week, blow-off-steam crowd. The well-heeled would not be happy. I recall seeing in one of the reports on this incident that the RR suggested they had placed the group in the wrong car - apparently they have cars for the more boisterous groups. I can see why a "reading club" might be thought of as a rather sedate group when making such assignments ahead of the event. Unless someone can step up and show a pattern of such behavior on the part of the RR (or certain RR personnel), I'm leaning toward this being a one-off event.
The group that delights in reading 'Wuthering Heights' is not the same group that delights in '50 Shades of Gray'. Those groups will have 'fun' at different sound levels.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Slow news day? sounds like a mis-understanding that escalated, afterall, alcohol was involved.
Barring evidence to the contrary, chalk it up to a learing experience in customer service.
I have no doubt the staff made the right call here. Loud and disturbing knows no color.
Jim Norton
Huntsville, AL
jimnorton I have no doubt the staff made the right call here. Loud and disturbing knows no color.
Just like some parents getting upset that kids are making 'too much noise' at a playground. It's what kids do!
A group of grownups sharing a good time amongst themselves make noise. It's what they do!
schlimm I guess you know more about what happened than the NVWT CEO.
Hey now, if we were only allowed to comment on things we actually know something about, the internet would fall suddenly very quiet ;)
Women, white or black, with a wee drop taken can get very shrill. (OK, call me sexist instead of racist.) But this is the Wine Train, right? If you want to go to church, take the Church Train. (Or is there one of those?)
dakotafred Women, white or black, with a wee drop taken can get very shrill. (OK, call me sexist instead of racist.) But this is the Wine Train, right? If you want to go to church, take the Church Train. (Is there one of those?)
Women, white or black, with a wee drop taken can get very shrill. (OK, call me sexist instead of racist.) But this is the Wine Train, right? If you want to go to church, take the Church Train. (Is there one of those?)
I have to say, many (self included) aren't especially fond of being around loud, somewhat tipsy to lit up folks. But if so, then riding on a booze train is a pretty dumb idea. And even dumber to complain as though it is a surprise.
Hmmmm....dunno here. I do find it very hard to swallow that no other sizeable groups of any description have been put off the train in recent memory, and that the police have not been involved to their recollection. What would make this one group different from other loud, boisterous, happy, in-their-cups, celebratory, giddy, tight (socially), and energetic passenger groups? Was it language, volume, accent, tone, coarseness,...? Skin colour?
I think Schlimm's reference suggests either a higly disingenous CEO reacting to potentially disastrous fb/twitter feedback/backlash or a very contrite one who frankly admits that his train crew screwed up royally. I simply don't know because I wasn't there. I find myself leaning on the side of the admission from the boss. The buck has to stop there.
Lets just face it. Through the rose colored glasses of political correctness standards and truth have no meaning. I wish, when I feel slighted, I could play the "bald card!"
Women were drinking wine on a Wine Train?
dakotafred Women, white or black, with a wee drop taken can get very shrill. (OK, call me sexist instead of racist.) But this is the Wine Train, right? If you want to go to church, take the Church Train. (Or is there one of those?)
We've done some wedding trains, but those tend to morph from "church train" to "party train" pretty quickly.
Methinks part of the problem here is that some folks regard wine very seriously - something to be partaken of and enjoyed, in moderate amounts. They know their reds from their whites, about clarity, bouquet, nose, etc. For them, an event involving wine should be sedate - "this isn't a bar..."
And there are others who simply regard wine as a carrier for the alcohol within. These folks don't care if it's Boone's Farm or some rare, vintage wine. They just want the buzz.
From what I read (and as I noted before), it appears that the railroad recognizes this difference and placed the reading club in the wrong car/section.
One might presume that there was no space left in the party section, and that the railroad personnel felt it necessary to get the group out of the sedate section, leaving no option but to put them off the train.
To me this doesn't sound like race really was an issue beyond the hurt feelings of those involved but a case of "laughing while obnoxious". I have been in several wineries where the same obnoxious behavior occurs when a small group of people drinking get obnoxiously loud. The difference in a winery is that you can move to another area farther away or outside even. On a wine/dinner train that's not possible as seats are assigned so if you get seated next to the "party crew" your visit can get utterly ruined by the actions of a few inconsiderate people who have no consideration for their fellow human. It has NOTHING to do with race its about behavior and consideration for others.
Now that said, I also think the wine train over-reacted a fair bit as well. Unless they were tossing glasses, being combative and hurling obscenities and behaving generally like brawling sailors on shore leave, was expulsion and a police escort really necessary? Of course, I wasn't there so its hard for me to say that with absolute conviction. I'd be curious to hear how the other passengers reacted. Did they cheer when they got tossed or were they like 'why we stopping?"
Have fun with your trains
jimnorton I wish, when I feel slighted, I could play the "bald card!"
You could always play the "cracker card". Seriously, I suspect down there in Alabama you're doing just fine, political correctness notwithstanding.
ouibejamncracker card
“I want to apologize for your experience on the Napa Valley Wine Train on Saturday, Aug. 22. We accept full responsibility for our failures and the entire chain of unfortunate events you experienced.
“Clearly, we knew in advance when we booked your party that you would be loud, fun-loving and boisterous—because you told us during the booking process that you wanted a place where your Club could enjoy each other’s company. Somehow that vital information never made it to the appropriate channels and we failed to seat your group where you could enjoy yourself properly and alert our train’s staff that they should expect a particularly vibrant group.
“We were insensitive when we asked you to depart our train by marching you down the aisle past all the other passengers. While that was the safest route for disembarking, it showed a lack of sensitivity on our part that I did not fully conceive of until you explained the humiliation of the experience and how it impacted you and your fellow Book Club members.
“We also erred by placing an inaccurate post on our Facebook site that was not reflective of what actually occurred. In the haste to respond to criticism and news inquires, we made a bad situation worse by rushing to answer questions on social media. We quickly removed the inaccurate post, but the harm was done by our erroneous post.
“In summary, we were acutely insensitive to you and the members of the Book Club. Please accept my apologies for our many mistakes and failures. We pride ourselves on our hospitality and our desire to please our guests on the Napa Valley Wine Train. In this instance, we failed in every measure of the meaning of good service, respect and hospitality.
“I appreciate your recommendation that our staff, which I believe to be among the best, could use additional cultural diversity and sensitivity training. I pledge to make sure that occurs and I plan to participate myself.
“As I offered in my conversation with you today, please accept my personal apologies for your experience and the experience of the Book Club members. I would like to invite you and other members to return plus 39 other guests (you can fill an entire car of 50) as my personal guests in a reserved car where you can enjoy yourselves as loudly as you desire.
“I want to conclude again by offering my apologies for your terrible experience.”
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150825006065/en/%E2%80%9CWe-100-Wrong%E2%80%9D-Napa-Wine-Train-Executive#.Vd99nXlRGM8
+2 Thanks for what would seem to be the final word on this event.
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