Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
Routes
The route varies by train type and departure location, and is subject to change based on railroad needs.
Cape Cod Excursion / Lunch / Brunch
Depart from Hyannis station and travel through the villages of West Barnstable and Sandwich, up to and along the Cape Cod Canal (but not across) to the area known as Aptucxet before returning to Hyannis.
Cape Cod Canal Excursion
Departs from Buzzards Bay and travels across the Cape Cod Canal Railroad bridge, then along the canal to Sandwich. It continues to the Great Salt Marsh in West Barnstable before returning to Buzzards Bay. Please note: Timely movement of maritime traffic in the Cape Cod Canal takes priority over use of the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge. Therefore, this excursion train may experience a delay in traveling across the bridge. In this event, the train departs Buzzards Bay and heads north past Cohasset Narrows, then travels toward Rochester until the bridge can be lowered for our use.
Cape Cod Dinner Trains
Dinner train routes vary by departure point and day.
All dinner trains are scheduled to travel across the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge, but please note that timely movement of maritime traffic in the Cape Cod Canal takes priority. Therefore, all dinner trains may experience a delay in traveling across the bridge or may not be able to cross.
Gift Shop
Our gift shop is located at our Hyannis depot and features a wide range of merchandise, including branded apparel. You may also visit our online storefront here.
Gift Cards
Our e-gift cards are available for purchase on our website and can be used toward tickets for any of our trains. At this time, they cannot be used for onboard purchases or in our gift shop.
Reservations & Ticketing
Classes of Service
We offer several Classes of Service that differ slightly between dining and excursion trains. Please see this page for photos and descriptions.
Purchasing Tickets
Advance reservations including meal selections are required for all dining trains and are strongly encouraged for our scenic/excursion trains.
Changing a Reservation
Please contact us at 888-797-7245 (option 3) or info@capetrain.com should you need to alter or cancel your reservation.
Ticketing
You will receive a confirmation email shortly after your booking is processed. Upon arrival, please proceed to Will Call and provide the name on your reservation to receive your physical boarding passes and seating assignments. While you do not need to print your confirmation email, please have it readily available should we have trouble locating your reservation.
Cancellation Policy
Reservations cancelled at least 48 hours in advance are eligible for a refund or may reschedule without penalty. Passengers cancelling within the 48 hour period may reschedule their ride or will receive a gift card that can be used on any excursion, dining, or Polar Express train ride.
Dining train cancellations within the 48 hour period will incur a penalty equivalent to the cost of the meal
Discounts
We are happy to extend a 10% discount to first responders, active military members & veterans, and seniors (60+) on our Excursion trains. The discount will be applied to the entire party. You may book online and we can issue a retroactive discount (i.e. refund the 10% to the card on file), or book by calling us at 888-797-7245 and choosing option 3.
Unfortunately, we do not offer these discounts on our dining trains at this time.
Group Travel
Whatever the occasion — receptions, birthdays, Christmas parties, group outings, anniversaries, office parties, family reunions, weddings — create an event to remember aboard the Cape Cod Central Railroad! Groups of 25 or more will receive a 10% discount.
Fill out our group reservation inquiry form here.
Seating
All passengers on one reservation will be seated together or directly adjacent to one another, depending on the size of the party and class of service.
Passengers booking on separate reservations may request to be seated with or adjacent to another party by providing the name on the requested party’s reservation upon time of booking. While we do our best to honor seating requests, they are not guaranteed.
Event Logistics
Location(s)/Driving Directions
Please be sure to confirm your departure point prior to your ride – we have multiple locations!
Hyannis Depot: 252 Main Street, Hyannis, MA
Buzzards Bay Depot: 70 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, MA
West Barnstable Station: 2469 Meetinghouse Way, West Barnstable, MA
Parking
Parking is available at all departure points, including handicapped spaces. There is a $5 fee for parking at our Hyannis depot. This fee does not apply to passengers with a handicap placard.
Arrival Time
To allow time for parking and check-in, we recommend you arrive 45 minutes – 1 hour prior to departure. Boarding begins approximately 30 minutes prior to departure. Please give us a call at 888-797-7245 and press 2 to be connected directly to our depot should you anticipate a late or close-to-departure arrival. Please note that we are unable to hold the train for latecomers.
Onboard
Dress Code
For your safety and comfort while boarding and walking through the railcar, we recommend sturdy, comfortable footwear.
Dining Trains (Dinner, Lunch, & Brunch): To help create a pleasant and authentic vintage dining experience, we suggest a dress code for our dining trains:
Gentlemen: Collared shirt and dress slacks
Ladies: Skirt, dress, or dressy slacks
While we appreciate a polished look, we also understand you’re on vacation! “Cape Cod Casual”—like khakis and a polo—is perfectly acceptable.
Not Permitted: Jeans, T-shirts, shorts, tank tops, or denim shorts. We reserve the right to deny boarding to guests dressed inappropriately.
Excursion Trains: Casual attire is just fine—wear whatever makes you comfortable!
Please note: Our railcars are air conditioned—please dress accordingly to stay comfortable during your ride.
Gratuity
To ensure that your hardworking server is properly compensated, passengers are encouraged to utilize the total cost of their trip (fare/ticket price + onboard purchases) as a reference point for calculating gratuity
For parties of eight or more, an automatic 18% gratuity will be charged to the card on file prior to departure.
Outside Food & Drink
Outside food or drink are not permitted on any of our trains. Boxed lunches are available for advance purchase on excursion trains, and a snack bar is available on board with light bites, packaged snacks, and beverages (alcoholic & non-alcoholic) for purchase. Boxed lunch orders must be placed 24 hours prior to departure.
Accessibility
Allergies & Dietary Restrictions
We are able to safely accommodate allergies and most dietary needs. Please note these in the “comment” box when booking, along with the passenger’s meal choice.
Service Animals
While we love furry friends, only service animals are permitted aboard our trains per Massachusetts state law.
Boarding Assistance
We strive to accommodate all passenger needs to the best of our ability.
Our staff is happy to assist passengers during the boarding process. At our Hyannis and Buzzards Bay Stations, wheelchairs are available to transport passengers to their railcar, as well as a ramp to a high-level platform for passengers who may have difficulty ascending the stairs to enter the railcar.
Unfortunately, a ramp is not available at our Falmouth departure point, so we cannot accommodate wheelchairs on these runs.
Please specify your needs in the “comments” box when booking or contact us at info@capetrain.com or 888-797-7245.
Wheelchairs
On our dining trains, our First Class cars can accommodate wheelchairs up to 26” wide. Due to the historic nature of our equipment, accessible restrooms are not available on dining trains. Please be sure to purchase a “First Class – Wheelchair” ticket.
Excursion trains can accommodate wheelchairs of any size in First Class. Accessible restrooms are available on these trains. Please be sure to purchase a “First Class – Wheelchair” ticket.
Free handicapped parking is available at all departure locations.
Seating
Due to the historic nature of our railcars, seating can vary in size and layout. Some configurations are more “snug” than others, so we encourage guests to view photos of their selected Class of Service before booking.
First Class Dining Train Seating: If you have a physical limitation that requires a certain type of seating—such as a movable chair instead of a fixed booth—please note this in the “comments” section when booking, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Premium Class Dome Car Seating: Guests will need to ascend 7 stairs to reach the Premium Seating level. Seating in these cars is fixed, with limited space between the seat and table. Guests will need to step up slightly and slide into the booth-style seating, similar to a restaurant booth. Please keep this in mind when booking if mobility is a concern.
If you have any questions or specific needs, don’t hesitate to contact us—we’re here to help make your ride as comfortable as possible! Give us a call at 888-797-7245 or email us at reservations@capetrain.com