In May of 2013, the Capeflyer service was launched by the MBTA to bring passenger rail service back to Cape Cod. This was something they would try for a year to see how it would go. After being quite successful, this service became permanent and runs every weekend during the summer between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Over the past three years, the CapeFlyer has made many improvements. CapeFlyer trains make limited stops on the Middleboro/Lakeville Line, which include: Braintree, Brockton, and Middleboro. Not having to make every stop on this commuter rail line has shortened the trip from Boston to Hyannis. Along with those changes, a downtown Wareham stop was added. Improvements to railroad crossings and upgrades for some of the railroad tracks south of Middleboro/Lakeville station were made. The cafe car has concessions provided by Blonde on the Run Catering.
On Friday, July 15, 2016, I thought I would take another ride on the CapeFlyer three years after the test run. I haven’t been on the train since the test run on that sunny spring Saturday, May 18, 2013. I remember that day like it was yesterday. Railfans, politicians, and MBTA top officials were onboard for the CapeFlyer’s maiden voyage. Although I hadn’t been on the CapeFlyer since I’ve been reading about the service over the years. I’ve made multiple trips to the Cape to photograph the train. Like many railfans, I enjoy photographing the train as it makes it way over the Cape Cod Railroad Bridge in Buzzards Bay, MA. One of my photographs even made it into the Mystic Valley Railway Society’s 2015 Calendar.
CapeFlyer: 3 Years Later
After work, my dad and I made our way into Boston to retake the trip we did 3 years ago. We got a quick bite at South Station and made our way to track 11 where you board the CapeFlyer. There was a large group of people waiting to board the train. Once the boarding call was made, we made our way to the six coach train set with one locomotive on each end. The train set includes a cafe car, bike rack car, and four passenger coaches. No double deckers coaches were in the set. We departed South Station right at 5:50 PM, and made our way south to Cape Cod. It wasn’t your typical commuter rail passenger with business casual outfits; the passengers were dressed for a weekend getaway. Most people had carried on a bag for a weekend stay. It wasn’t your typical commuter rail passenger crowd.
It was a quick ride on the Middleboro/Lakeville position of the line, only making station stops at Braintree, Brockton, and Middleboro/Lakeville, with average speeds of 70 mph. Once we made our way south of Middleboro/Lakeville station, the track was upgraded and top speeds were 50 mph. We made station stops at the new Wareham Station and Buzzards Bay. Once we cross the Cape Cod Railroad Bridge it was a non-stop trip to Hyannis. Once we cross the bridge on the Cape side, speeds averaged 30 mph. At this point, the sun was setting and the view of the many marshes and cranberry bogs was amazing. We had a few speed restrictions, but we were only six minutes late pulling to Hyannis.
We had about a 40-minute layover at Hyannis before making our return trip back. We left right at 9 PM. Only the cafe car and one passenger coach were open. Before we crossed the Cape Cod Railroad Bridge, the conductors turn off some of the lights so we could view the Cape Cod Canal as we passed over it. Traveling round trip on the CapeFlyer cost about $40 per person from Boston to Hyannis. I would say it was money well spent compared to spending hours in traffic. Leave the driving to someone else.
Overall Thoughts
What started out to be a year-long experiment became a huge hit. The CapeFlyer had a total of 334 passengers heading southbound that evening. The CapeFlyer is a complete success. Everyone seems to be happy, from the passengers to the train crew!
Railfanning the CapeFlyer
About a year or so I drafted up a railfan point of interest sheet for the CapeFlyer. During this trip, I made some edits and thought I would share it with other railfans. The original sheet was made up for my good friend and fellow Train Aficionado blog contributor Jonah Soolman. – Click here to download.
Friday night was the most ideal night for me to make a quick round trip on the CapeFlyer. The Friday night train departs South Station at 5:50 PM and makes it way south to Hyannis in a 2 hour and 20-minute trip. Once the train arrives in Hyannis at 8:15 there is a short layover of 45 minutes before it departs Hyannis at 9 PM to head back into Boston. Saturday and Sunday service trains depart Boston early in the morning and return back in the early evening. This makes for an all-day layover in Hyannis.
For this railfanning trip, I would recommend bringing a camera and scanner. There are a few scanner frequency changes along the route. I brought my BC125AT and my Nikon D5200 with me.
Scanner frequencies
Approaching and leaving South Station
– Amtrak Road Channel 160.9200MHz CSQ
Quincy to Middleboro/Lakeville
– Middleboro/Lakeville Line 160.7250MHz CSQ
South of Middleboro/Lakeville Station to Hyannis
– Mass Coastal Railroad Road (Dispatch) 160.4250MHz CSQ [Repeater]
– Cape Cod Canal Control 163.4125
