All Things Travel: Cape Cod Rail Line Looks Promising
BOSTON (CBS) – The new weekend train service starting on May 24 from Boston to Hyannis holds real promise for the Massachusetts tourism industry.
Run by the MBTA Purple Line, it follows expansion of MBTA rail service from Boston to T.F. Green Airport in Rhode Island last year.
The new service to Cape Cod is a first for rail service in that part of the state in 25 years. The fare will be $35 round trip.
There will be three trips over the weekend. The 5:12 p.m. train on the Middleboro/Lakeville will continue on to Buzzards Bay, over The Cape Cod Canal Bridge with a scheduled arrival in Hyannis by 7:50 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, the train will leave South Station at 8:00 a.m., arriving at 10:18 a.m. The return trip will depart Hyannis at 6:30 p.m. through Labor Day.
The success of the new summer schedule will depend on getting the word out to tourists visiting Boston and bicycle enthusiasts. The weekend trains will have a car with racks that can handle 30 bikes.
The weekend service will be operated by trains that are usually not in service on those days.
Tom Cahir, Administrator for The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, is coordinating the new program with The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.
The rail service will be coordinated with island ferries going to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Rental cars will also be available at The Hyannis Intermodal Center. More than 300 virtual bike route signs are being installed.
Currently P & B bus service offers scheduled service from Logan Airport and South Station to Hyannis.
One of the speakers at the announcement press conference last week was State Senator Dan Wolf, who is also the CEO of Cape Air that connects Cape Cod to Logan Airport.
"This may be the first time that an airline executive has advocated rail service," said Wolf. "We are in favor of anything that will help The Cape."
The only thing that I can see wrong with this project is its name. The new service is called "The Cape Flyer."
Wouldn't it be better to call it what it is: "Cape Cod Rail?"
Bob Weiss reports on business travel on Mondays at 5:55 a.m. on WBZ NewsRadio 1030.
