My great-great-grandmother and her daughter took the train from the Cape to Boston in 1872 to buy my great-grandmother's wedding trousseau. Unfortunately, my g-g-grandmother became ill and died in Boston before the return trip.
Agreed. Should be minimum three trains a day each way daily. You would see people use it for things such as catching international flight out of Logan, appointment at hospital , random events etc
There is an active effort to [extend the commuter rail to Buzzards Bay](https://www.capeandislands.org/local-news/2023-08-31/cape-reps-push-for-commuter-rail), which would not require much in the way of infrastructure. The biggest impediment to extending regular service further (which remains in active study) is not NIMBYs or single-track or slow speed limits, but rather the Army Corps of Engineers' rejection of more bridge drops during the day. Getting state control over the bridge (which AFAIK would require intervention from Congress) would be the most important next step.
As a cape resident, the feeling is mutual. But my gripe is that the cape flyer doesn’t even effectively serve cape residents. It only prioritizes scheduling for people coming from Boston. Shameful schedule, also shameful prices. It’s insanely expensive.
Agreed it should prioritize Cape residents and expand bus connections to better serve it. Multiple trips a day can serve jobs, appointments, events etc
My kids moved back to live on cape with their mother this past year so I make the trip every weekend from Boston to Hyannis after taking the commuter to Boston. I usually take a train to Boston and then hop on a bus to Hyannis.
Her family was super excited to let me know there’s a train to cape on the summer and I can just hop on from south station blah blah.
Freaking cape flyer is a joke lol. Leaves like once a day and returns the same.
Worse is that it’s literally more expensive then taking a Bus, which I can buy a ticket to and show up any hour on the hour and hop on from like 4am-11pm at south station.
Idk if it’s super luxurious or what but it’s such pain I the ass to plan around and I’m legit losing money so I can’t be fkd to try it, but it really is a joke and clearly for old people heading to cape for a day trip or w.e because it makes zero sense for even a weekend commuter to choose to use it over anything else.
Government is spending money on useless wars and dumb shit. Drop $1B on the Cape Cod Railroad Infrastructure, drop
In the bucket in terms of waste, and it would rival Italian high speed rail
> The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Biden in November 2021, represents a major investment in U.S. infrastructure. Here are the key details:
> The legislation allocates $1.2 trillion in total infrastructure spending, with $550 billion in new federal funding to be distributed over 5 years[1][2]. This is the largest U.S. infrastructure investment since the creation of the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s[3].
Major investments include:
- $110 billion for roads, bridges, and major projects[5]
- $66 billion for passenger and freight rail[1]
- $65 billion for broadband internet expansion[4]
- $55 billion for clean water infrastructure[1]
- $39 billion for public transit[5]
- $25 billion for airports[1]
> The Act aims to repair deteriorating infrastructure, create jobs, and enhance America's global competitiveness. It's estimated to create over 2 million jobs over the next decade[3].
> Key focus areas include traditional infrastructure like roads and bridges, as well as modern priorities such as clean energy, broadband access, and cybersecurity[1][2]. The legislation also emphasizes climate change mitigation and resilience in infrastructure projects[5].
Yeah the government has done anything /s
Keep voting for Markey and Warren. They do nothing for the state except bitch about pointless stuff. How many times has Warren declared war on banks and corporations? Just go and get money for Massachusetts - literally should be her only job. Instead a social warrior on stuff they’ll never take up in Washington.
Secured $335M for the I:90 project in Allston
https://pressley.house.gov/2024/03/11/pressley-warren-markey-mass-lawmakers-announce-335-million-from-inflation-reduction-act-for-allstons-i-90-multimodal-project/
They secured $22M for Logan
https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-markey-massachusetts-delegation-announce-over-22-million-in-federal-funding-for-boston-logan-airport
Fighting for projects for Wellfleet, Truro, Sandwich, Chatham, and other MA towns
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-secures-wins-for-massachusetts-as-water-infrastructure-bill-passes-senate-committee#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20the%20Drinking%20Water,clean%20drinking%20water%20in%20frontline
Notably in the above, the bill includes:
"Cape Cod – Includes report language that encourages improved coordination between the Army Corps and Massachusetts to support the Cape Cod drawbridge"
You’re one of these guys who has an opinion first and doesn’t like facts that contradict that safe place in your head which is “bitch about xyz”
Doesn’t matter if you’re objectively wrong. You just want to think the same thing. Probably the reason you’re a toilet mechanic.
I love the idea but Cape Cod is the Capitol of NIMBY. They already want the single track gone so it can be a bike path as if the 2 things can't coexist.
For enough money they’ll go away, and if they won’t their grandkids will convince them when they figure out the inheritance they’ll get. Everyone has their price.
Not dreaming. Have you ever seen the Japanese trains? They go about 400 mph. Add in a few stops and an hour is within reach. The key is to get enough government funding, some Japanese railroad workers, and start working!
There is second hand stick rail on the Cape from the New Haven days, which you can see if you look at the dates on the side of the rails. To go to Boston in an hour, you would not only need to go well over one hundred miles per hour along the route, but you would need to invest in a substantial amount of infrastructure for high speed rail. Not that it cannot be done, but the initial cost when starting from zero would be a huge barrier.
I would love it, but the NIMBY’s would kill it, especially when it gets closer to Boston, they would scream about the train horns and noise.
Face it this state government got cold feet when it had the chance to connect North Station and South Station when they had the chance during the big dig. It was only one mile of track and would have used a parallel tunnel. But no. Too much money. You think they will even upgrade the track to high speed passenger service at probably $2million dollars per mile? That’s a reasonable estimate.
I don’t think any legislator would disagree with you but they have two big points working against each expanding rail service to the cape.
1 they’re already fighting tooth and nail to get funding for the bridges. Going for funding for an alternative to the bridges weakens most arguments for bridge funding and honestly the bridges are a right now problem.
2 to expand rail usage you’re going to need significant parking at the stations. Someone somewhere is going to have their land taken away for that parking.
Parking capacity is so strongly correlated with ridership that not knowing that fact should make you think about all the other things that you also don't know.
The people who ride this train, who are also the people that you want more of to ride this train, do not live in walking or biking distance of the stations. Even if they did, they will not walk or bike with all of their vacation luggage and children to the train station. If you do not provide the most basic concession to the specific combined-mode behavior, then you could run trains every 10 minutes at 80mph and you'd never fill them. It's heavy rail to the Cape. Love it or lump it, you need concurrent parking build-out. Can't be helped.
You forget all the guests that come solo or twoseys. That does not need a car. None of my guests would need a car. We have (2 - me and husband), and we all go around together when here for the week or weekend.
I have (3) cars coming this weekend (4 people) not one of them needs a car, yet the single train option arriving late friday doesn't work for them...so, 3 cars it is!
It isn’t just the rails that are the problem. They wanted to run two Cape Flyers a day a couple of summers ago, and the Army Corps of Engineers vetoed the idea, in favor of keeping the canal open for boat traffic.
Cape flyer runs by the house every weekend. And all five cars are virtually empty every weekend You’re kidding yourself if you think any real numbers are taking it. And for upper cape people we still need to go over the bridge by car to get on cape so it’s not reducing any traffic.
Just another State funded waste of money you would not believe the amount of maintenance they do on that track year around for 10 people a trip
Though, an argument could be made that by increasing service, more people would take it at the time you see because it is more convenient for them in other areas.
I also mentioned MassDOT should subsidize Amtrak service from Cape to NYP. Also it should be Cape legislators to push for funding this in addition to Boston area ones
NYP? ( Assuming you’re referring to Penn Station? )
When my son was splitting his time between his fathers and BB and my home in the Midcape, I used to put him on the Flyer to avoid traffic- (the price from Hyannis to Bourne has actually decreased over the past few years), but the lack of travel options made it not as useful as we had hoped.
I wish I could put the gif of Officer Thorne from Super Troopers saying "who wants a moustache ride?" As a response because of your user name.... oh well.
Hard agree. I rarely go to Boston anymore because the traffic sucks. If there was a regular train I’d go all the time. My city friends would be more likely to visit me.
The MBTA won't even bring the weekend $10.00 deal to the Cape. People are going to argue about the money they would lose, the MBTA won't even do this in October!
I usually drive to Middleboro and take it from there.
The MBTA doesn't care about the Cape, we have our own bus service because the Cape doesn't count as being a part of the M in MBTA, it's the CCRTA. It's come a long way too. They used to suspend service for the winter...... because apparently winter is a better time to walk from P-Town to a job in Hyannis. 😂
I grew up in Boston, so this is something I noticed in 2005, when I first moved here and realized, I really do need a car.
Even though I have been living here for almost 20 years, I am still a wash-a-shore who experienced public transit and knows we lost out on access for the Cape. My husband grew up here and could not care less! He has never even taken The CCRTA and he does not care about train service from Boston helping traffic run smoother. He lives on the "right" side of the bridge for it.
Although on Saturday, 7/6/24, the Sagamore was backed up to Ye Old Exit 9. That's insane.
Most Cape Cod residents are aware that as soon as the bridges, in 30 years, are fully replaced there will be tolls on them.
The Army Corps of engineers and the Federal government no longer want to maintain the bridges. Massachusetts residents will need to fund repairs and upkeep on their own.
It is not so much that they do not want to maintain them, but maintaining such large bridges is a bit of an oddity to their mission. Tolls have been talked about, but no one has gotten behind it in a serious manner, so I doubt that they would do this if they are fully funding the bridges.
I mean for the new bridges. Massachusetts residents will have to fund all future repairs for the new ones.
I'm not 100% which newspaper reported it but The new bridges will not be managed by the Army Corps of Engineers.
I'm in the tiny minority that could actually make use of the Flyer if it ran more often, but for most people it isn't going to replace the need for a car once it deposits them on the Cape. It is a nice idea, but you need a car to get around the vast majority of Cape Cod. The Flyer _could_ be useful for those of us that have family that live down there and could in theory ferry us around once we get ourselves down there, but most people want to go somewhere that isn't near an active rail station and want to bring more stuff than can easily go on the train with them.
Bus is a little bit better than the train, but more of a get you there and back and not a get around solution.
IDK what car pooling you'd be talking about. Ride share and such I guess could work, but you'd be spending a fortune on it. Places can be far apart on the cape.
None of that solves the problem of bringing a whole family's worth of stuff for a weekend on the train down anyway which is the bigger use case. If you're looking for a beach day trip, going to the cape (via the flyer) is not it.
I guess my point is it would get some people. I think its a mistake to say train service can serve every need and every user. If it can serve a sizable number of riders that should be good enough.
As per what I mean family/friends/neighbors who have similar schedules they can rotate who is driving to the train station. Ride share costs can be managed depending on how far and frequently a person is riding. Same for zip car etc.
_Some_ of it maybe. And it wouldn't be "expansion" so much as "creation." You still wouldn't be bringing a family's worth of stuff on the train/bus for a cape vacation. There are much better day trip options unless you're a masochist. There's some hop-on/hop-off type bus service in some select areas, but it isn't proper bus service.
TBF the goal is not to get a family of 5 onto the train. There are plenty of people traveling by themselves for various reasons or couples as well. Just getting them to take the train will make the car trip for the families that need a car easier.
I've taken the flyer many times but I don't ever think it's beaten the car eta route even in peak times. It needs to be high speed to have any behavioral sway.
Last year I remember [talk in the state legislature about extending the commuter rail to Cape Cod](https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/more-trains-to-the-cape-lawmakers-pitch-regular-service-to-buzzards-bay/3125617/?amp=1) - i.e. making the CapeFLYER a regular running line. But then all the discussion disappeared. I have to believe though it will someday happen, but hopefully only after they fix whatever causes the train to run so incredibly slowly from Bourne to Hyannis.
Cape residents are generally responsible for killing these projects. And immediately after turn around and complain about all the traffic. It’s a classic boomer mentality, just a bunch of totally brain dead retiree’s driving the whole area off a cliff.
I'd hate to see it delay the bridge project further, but the rail should probably be part of the new Sagamore bridge. It eliminates the lift bridge problem, and also the stretch of rail along the canal that is basically in people's backyards. I'm sure the alignment to get the rails to the bridge would be a major to-do though.
There was once a proposal to expand the Plymouth line through Buzzards Bay, however the approach to and from any bridge at the height that they demand means that it would involve a mile-long viaduct on at least one end, to make it to 135 feet. This was told to us in grade school when we visited Army Corps facilities, so it would be a massive undertaking in Sagamore on the mainland side, and involve a fair amount of land taking on the Cape side.
I always wondered if it would be easier to tunnel through Plymouth and build a bridge through Sagamore for a more direct route, because then you have more of a straight shot to Boston.
Yeah, the grade and approaches are what I was referring to when I mentioned alignment, I didn't put it very clearly. Highways can have much steeper grades than rail, and can also make tighter turns.
I don't think the existing track will ever support a reasonable commuting-friendly speed, but any fix would require big scale thinking that's unlikely to ever happen.
I think it is possible to support higher speeds, but it would require replacing all of the century-old rail with more modern rail. It has been mentioned in Cape Rail Fans on Facebook that New Haven used to drop second-hand rail on the Cape, which explains why most of it is so old to begin with.
Yes on the trail upgrades, but you also have a number of grade crossings and some fairly tight bends at either end of the canal section. Idk how much impact those would have on max running speed though.
Yes, during the summer. It’s about a 12 week period where we get inundated with self entitled remote workers and executives from CT and NY. They want to enjoy their secluded peaceful second home on Cape Cod, yet also expect it to run 24 hours and have 4 lane highways for their convenience. As other commenters have stated, the bridges need work as it is. It’s difficult to think of taking on a project such as this. The demand year round for the type of services this post is talking about just isn’t there in my opinion.
I agree. I mean, seeing people come off the boat in PTown is fantastic, it makes so much sense. But the people renting cottages for a week aren’t really able to take the train. It’s never going to get reduce the traffic in a significant way.
America doesn't do public transit well at all. It is criminal, sick of our dependency on cars. I get to read on trains, relax on trains, do whatever I want and it's much safer. But then we wouldn't be spending thousands of dollars on cars, insurance, repairs etc etc. I hate it
The problem is capacity at South Station. They’re already committed to adding frequent Fall River and New Bedford service and have committed over $1 billion to South Coast Rail. What is really needed is EMU rail cars so service from the Cape, New Bedford, and Fall River can all merge into one train at Middleborough.
Mos def. Did it Friday into town and it was almost empty. Would love more options tho. That said, ferry to the Cape is the bomb. And Hyannis is the armpit of Massachusetts.
Why would the state invest money to do this when the horrible traffic you are referring to is something that is only an issue for 12 weeks a year tops?
Goal is to have year round service. Also traffic on 3 and 93 is awful year round. Improving rail throughout the state helps the choke points on the Cape but also throughout Metro Boston.
From the history signs on the Cape Cod Rail Trail, there used to be a lot of train traffic in the 1800s.
My grandparents took the train from Boston to Ptown with their parents to get married in the early 1900’s.
Hells, the Old Colony lines on the Commuter Rail only came back into service in 1997! My dad carpooled from Plymouth to Boston for decades!
My great-great-grandmother and her daughter took the train from the Cape to Boston in 1872 to buy my great-grandmother's wedding trousseau. Unfortunately, my g-g-grandmother became ill and died in Boston before the return trip.
And Boston to Woods Hole, so as to get to the island ferries. Fill the Canal.
All the way to 1959 and then again briefly in the 80s and 90s
Just the eighties, as it ended after the 1988 season: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Cod_and_Hyannis_Railroad
Like the various stages of industrialization, pre-automobile was an entirely different animal…
[удалено]
Also make it viable for people living on Cape to to use trains for jobs/events
Yeah it’s bullshit that it only goes off-Cape in the evening.
Agreed. Should be minimum three trains a day each way daily. You would see people use it for things such as catching international flight out of Logan, appointment at hospital , random events etc
It would be well used.
If it went to Boston early enough to catch a sox game and stay overnight, it would be a huge win. As is now, it’s useless for cape residents.
And reduce traffic on the Cape.
There is an active effort to [extend the commuter rail to Buzzards Bay](https://www.capeandislands.org/local-news/2023-08-31/cape-reps-push-for-commuter-rail), which would not require much in the way of infrastructure. The biggest impediment to extending regular service further (which remains in active study) is not NIMBYs or single-track or slow speed limits, but rather the Army Corps of Engineers' rejection of more bridge drops during the day. Getting state control over the bridge (which AFAIK would require intervention from Congress) would be the most important next step.
As a cape resident, the feeling is mutual. But my gripe is that the cape flyer doesn’t even effectively serve cape residents. It only prioritizes scheduling for people coming from Boston. Shameful schedule, also shameful prices. It’s insanely expensive.
Agreed it should prioritize Cape residents and expand bus connections to better serve it. Multiple trips a day can serve jobs, appointments, events etc
I currently have to drive all the way to middleboro to catch the train to Boston. It’s seriously a joke.
Why not Plymouth?
I’m closer to the Bourne bridge
🙂
It doesn't run to plymouth anymore. You'd have to catch it in Kingston
Any idea why? My guess would be not enough passengers?
I remember reading something about declining ridership or something
$22? I’d pay that to not sit in traffic.
The views are great. You go through beautiful spots that you would never see without a kayak or a dirt bike.
No doubt; equally true on the *Downeaster* or *Lake Shore Limited*.
From South Station to Hyannis, it's $10 cheaper than the bus. $20 versus $30
My kids moved back to live on cape with their mother this past year so I make the trip every weekend from Boston to Hyannis after taking the commuter to Boston. I usually take a train to Boston and then hop on a bus to Hyannis. Her family was super excited to let me know there’s a train to cape on the summer and I can just hop on from south station blah blah. Freaking cape flyer is a joke lol. Leaves like once a day and returns the same. Worse is that it’s literally more expensive then taking a Bus, which I can buy a ticket to and show up any hour on the hour and hop on from like 4am-11pm at south station. Idk if it’s super luxurious or what but it’s such pain I the ass to plan around and I’m legit losing money so I can’t be fkd to try it, but it really is a joke and clearly for old people heading to cape for a day trip or w.e because it makes zero sense for even a weekend commuter to choose to use it over anything else.
it’s slow as hell too
It should be every 30 min from 5a-11p in the summer and every 90 min in the off season. You should be able to go from Boston to Hyannis in an hour.
Unfortunately the rails on the Cape are only rated for 30 mph. Pretty dang slow. The rails need some serious upgrading.
Government is spending money on useless wars and dumb shit. Drop $1B on the Cape Cod Railroad Infrastructure, drop In the bucket in terms of waste, and it would rival Italian high speed rail
> The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Biden in November 2021, represents a major investment in U.S. infrastructure. Here are the key details: > The legislation allocates $1.2 trillion in total infrastructure spending, with $550 billion in new federal funding to be distributed over 5 years[1][2]. This is the largest U.S. infrastructure investment since the creation of the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s[3]. Major investments include: - $110 billion for roads, bridges, and major projects[5] - $66 billion for passenger and freight rail[1] - $65 billion for broadband internet expansion[4] - $55 billion for clean water infrastructure[1] - $39 billion for public transit[5] - $25 billion for airports[1] > The Act aims to repair deteriorating infrastructure, create jobs, and enhance America's global competitiveness. It's estimated to create over 2 million jobs over the next decade[3]. > Key focus areas include traditional infrastructure like roads and bridges, as well as modern priorities such as clean energy, broadband access, and cybersecurity[1][2]. The legislation also emphasizes climate change mitigation and resilience in infrastructure projects[5]. Yeah the government has done anything /s
Keep voting for Markey and Warren. They do nothing for the state except bitch about pointless stuff. How many times has Warren declared war on banks and corporations? Just go and get money for Massachusetts - literally should be her only job. Instead a social warrior on stuff they’ll never take up in Washington.
Secured $335M for the I:90 project in Allston https://pressley.house.gov/2024/03/11/pressley-warren-markey-mass-lawmakers-announce-335-million-from-inflation-reduction-act-for-allstons-i-90-multimodal-project/ They secured $22M for Logan https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-markey-massachusetts-delegation-announce-over-22-million-in-federal-funding-for-boston-logan-airport Fighting for projects for Wellfleet, Truro, Sandwich, Chatham, and other MA towns https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-secures-wins-for-massachusetts-as-water-infrastructure-bill-passes-senate-committee#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20the%20Drinking%20Water,clean%20drinking%20water%20in%20frontline Notably in the above, the bill includes: "Cape Cod – Includes report language that encourages improved coordination between the Army Corps and Massachusetts to support the Cape Cod drawbridge"
You’re one of these guys who has an opinion first and doesn’t like facts that contradict that safe place in your head which is “bitch about xyz” Doesn’t matter if you’re objectively wrong. You just want to think the same thing. Probably the reason you’re a toilet mechanic.
Trump will defund these projects and more. Get ready for the stone ages to return.
That's still more economical and reliable than driving
There is only one track. Impossible to run on that schedule.
Stop constraining your ideas to today. The government waste trillions on stupid shit. Throw some money at it and make it three tracks.
I love the idea but Cape Cod is the Capitol of NIMBY. They already want the single track gone so it can be a bike path as if the 2 things can't coexist.
For enough money they’ll go away, and if they won’t their grandkids will convince them when they figure out the inheritance they’ll get. Everyone has their price.
We have plenty of sidings
I just counted at least three between Hyannis and Middleborough.
To be fair, most of the bridges have capacity for a second track, the Canal bridge and West Barnstable over 6A included.
The Kingston, Middleborough/Lakeville, and Greenbush lines all run single-track through JFK/UMass station.
Thank you for checking in with LOGIC.
Lmao my guy it took me an hour to get to boston from quincy when I took the red line for the parade. Hour from Boston to hyannis? You're dreaming
Not dreaming. Have you ever seen the Japanese trains? They go about 400 mph. Add in a few stops and an hour is within reach. The key is to get enough government funding, some Japanese railroad workers, and start working!
Dude even amtrak isn't doing that. It'll be 100 years before we have anything even close to that here.
Japan is! Be positive and I hope one day you’re commuting from the beach eating crabs to your office job in Boston in 30 min!
There is second hand stick rail on the Cape from the New Haven days, which you can see if you look at the dates on the side of the rails. To go to Boston in an hour, you would not only need to go well over one hundred miles per hour along the route, but you would need to invest in a substantial amount of infrastructure for high speed rail. Not that it cannot be done, but the initial cost when starting from zero would be a huge barrier.
I would love it, but the NIMBY’s would kill it, especially when it gets closer to Boston, they would scream about the train horns and noise. Face it this state government got cold feet when it had the chance to connect North Station and South Station when they had the chance during the big dig. It was only one mile of track and would have used a parallel tunnel. But no. Too much money. You think they will even upgrade the track to high speed passenger service at probably $2million dollars per mile? That’s a reasonable estimate.
I don’t think any legislator would disagree with you but they have two big points working against each expanding rail service to the cape. 1 they’re already fighting tooth and nail to get funding for the bridges. Going for funding for an alternative to the bridges weakens most arguments for bridge funding and honestly the bridges are a right now problem. 2 to expand rail usage you’re going to need significant parking at the stations. Someone somewhere is going to have their land taken away for that parking.
Parking lots can be a secondary thing. They aren’t as critical
Parking capacity is so strongly correlated with ridership that not knowing that fact should make you think about all the other things that you also don't know.
Frequency ,track and signal conditions much more critical. Focusing on those first will have biggest impact by far
The people who ride this train, who are also the people that you want more of to ride this train, do not live in walking or biking distance of the stations. Even if they did, they will not walk or bike with all of their vacation luggage and children to the train station. If you do not provide the most basic concession to the specific combined-mode behavior, then you could run trains every 10 minutes at 80mph and you'd never fill them. It's heavy rail to the Cape. Love it or lump it, you need concurrent parking build-out. Can't be helped.
You forget all the guests that come solo or twoseys. That does not need a car. None of my guests would need a car. We have (2 - me and husband), and we all go around together when here for the week or weekend. I have (3) cars coming this weekend (4 people) not one of them needs a car, yet the single train option arriving late friday doesn't work for them...so, 3 cars it is!
They opted for bikes instead of trains /s
It isn’t just the rails that are the problem. They wanted to run two Cape Flyers a day a couple of summers ago, and the Army Corps of Engineers vetoed the idea, in favor of keeping the canal open for boat traffic.
Cape flyer runs by the house every weekend. And all five cars are virtually empty every weekend You’re kidding yourself if you think any real numbers are taking it. And for upper cape people we still need to go over the bridge by car to get on cape so it’s not reducing any traffic. Just another State funded waste of money you would not believe the amount of maintenance they do on that track year around for 10 people a trip
Though, an argument could be made that by increasing service, more people would take it at the time you see because it is more convenient for them in other areas.
You should complain about this in r/boston instead
I also mentioned MassDOT should subsidize Amtrak service from Cape to NYP. Also it should be Cape legislators to push for funding this in addition to Boston area ones
NYP? ( Assuming you’re referring to Penn Station? ) When my son was splitting his time between his fathers and BB and my home in the Midcape, I used to put him on the Flyer to avoid traffic- (the price from Hyannis to Bourne has actually decreased over the past few years), but the lack of travel options made it not as useful as we had hoped.
Yes I am. Also there are multiple Penn stations NY, Newark, and Baltimore.
Are you not aware of the tunnel
Bah the Catapult is the more economic option these days
The trebuchet is great for getting to the islands.
But that just lands you in a Bourne Police station cell for the night.
Only if they catch me!
I wish I could put the gif of Officer Thorne from Super Troopers saying "who wants a moustache ride?" As a response because of your user name.... oh well.
I appreciate that 😂
Don’t tell they don’t need to know
The toll is way too high on the tunnel. Sure the yearly permit is a good deal, but since it's only available for cape residents, tourists are sol
It’s my understanding, that lowering/raising the Train bridge frequently causes a mess for the coast guard/canal traffic? I could be wrong
They did it for decades with no problem
From what I understand Army Corps would like more funding from MassDOT to allow for more frequency on bridge use
Yes, but in this scenario we are only talking a handful of times per day
Hard agree. I rarely go to Boston anymore because the traffic sucks. If there was a regular train I’d go all the time. My city friends would be more likely to visit me.
The MBTA won't even bring the weekend $10.00 deal to the Cape. People are going to argue about the money they would lose, the MBTA won't even do this in October! I usually drive to Middleboro and take it from there. The MBTA doesn't care about the Cape, we have our own bus service because the Cape doesn't count as being a part of the M in MBTA, it's the CCRTA. It's come a long way too. They used to suspend service for the winter...... because apparently winter is a better time to walk from P-Town to a job in Hyannis. 😂 I grew up in Boston, so this is something I noticed in 2005, when I first moved here and realized, I really do need a car. Even though I have been living here for almost 20 years, I am still a wash-a-shore who experienced public transit and knows we lost out on access for the Cape. My husband grew up here and could not care less! He has never even taken The CCRTA and he does not care about train service from Boston helping traffic run smoother. He lives on the "right" side of the bridge for it. Although on Saturday, 7/6/24, the Sagamore was backed up to Ye Old Exit 9. That's insane. Most Cape Cod residents are aware that as soon as the bridges, in 30 years, are fully replaced there will be tolls on them. The Army Corps of engineers and the Federal government no longer want to maintain the bridges. Massachusetts residents will need to fund repairs and upkeep on their own.
It is not so much that they do not want to maintain them, but maintaining such large bridges is a bit of an oddity to their mission. Tolls have been talked about, but no one has gotten behind it in a serious manner, so I doubt that they would do this if they are fully funding the bridges.
I mean for the new bridges. Massachusetts residents will have to fund all future repairs for the new ones. I'm not 100% which newspaper reported it but The new bridges will not be managed by the Army Corps of Engineers.
I'm in the tiny minority that could actually make use of the Flyer if it ran more often, but for most people it isn't going to replace the need for a car once it deposits them on the Cape. It is a nice idea, but you need a car to get around the vast majority of Cape Cod. The Flyer _could_ be useful for those of us that have family that live down there and could in theory ferry us around once we get ourselves down there, but most people want to go somewhere that isn't near an active rail station and want to bring more stuff than can easily go on the train with them.
Can't you supplement that with a combination of car pooling, ride share apps, Zip car rentals, biking, and bus service?
Bus is a little bit better than the train, but more of a get you there and back and not a get around solution. IDK what car pooling you'd be talking about. Ride share and such I guess could work, but you'd be spending a fortune on it. Places can be far apart on the cape. None of that solves the problem of bringing a whole family's worth of stuff for a weekend on the train down anyway which is the bigger use case. If you're looking for a beach day trip, going to the cape (via the flyer) is not it.
I guess my point is it would get some people. I think its a mistake to say train service can serve every need and every user. If it can serve a sizable number of riders that should be good enough. As per what I mean family/friends/neighbors who have similar schedules they can rotate who is driving to the train station. Ride share costs can be managed depending on how far and frequently a person is riding. Same for zip car etc.
This could be solved by a supplemental expansion to bus service
_Some_ of it maybe. And it wouldn't be "expansion" so much as "creation." You still wouldn't be bringing a family's worth of stuff on the train/bus for a cape vacation. There are much better day trip options unless you're a masochist. There's some hop-on/hop-off type bus service in some select areas, but it isn't proper bus service.
TBF the goal is not to get a family of 5 onto the train. There are plenty of people traveling by themselves for various reasons or couples as well. Just getting them to take the train will make the car trip for the families that need a car easier.
I've taken the flyer many times but I don't ever think it's beaten the car eta route even in peak times. It needs to be high speed to have any behavioral sway.
Last year I remember [talk in the state legislature about extending the commuter rail to Cape Cod](https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/more-trains-to-the-cape-lawmakers-pitch-regular-service-to-buzzards-bay/3125617/?amp=1) - i.e. making the CapeFLYER a regular running line. But then all the discussion disappeared. I have to believe though it will someday happen, but hopefully only after they fix whatever causes the train to run so incredibly slowly from Bourne to Hyannis.
Cape residents are generally responsible for killing these projects. And immediately after turn around and complain about all the traffic. It’s a classic boomer mentality, just a bunch of totally brain dead retiree’s driving the whole area off a cliff.
You’re not wrong, but don’t drag all boomers into this. There are plenty who still have novel ideas
I'd hate to see it delay the bridge project further, but the rail should probably be part of the new Sagamore bridge. It eliminates the lift bridge problem, and also the stretch of rail along the canal that is basically in people's backyards. I'm sure the alignment to get the rails to the bridge would be a major to-do though.
There was once a proposal to expand the Plymouth line through Buzzards Bay, however the approach to and from any bridge at the height that they demand means that it would involve a mile-long viaduct on at least one end, to make it to 135 feet. This was told to us in grade school when we visited Army Corps facilities, so it would be a massive undertaking in Sagamore on the mainland side, and involve a fair amount of land taking on the Cape side. I always wondered if it would be easier to tunnel through Plymouth and build a bridge through Sagamore for a more direct route, because then you have more of a straight shot to Boston.
Yeah, the grade and approaches are what I was referring to when I mentioned alignment, I didn't put it very clearly. Highways can have much steeper grades than rail, and can also make tighter turns. I don't think the existing track will ever support a reasonable commuting-friendly speed, but any fix would require big scale thinking that's unlikely to ever happen.
I think it is possible to support higher speeds, but it would require replacing all of the century-old rail with more modern rail. It has been mentioned in Cape Rail Fans on Facebook that New Haven used to drop second-hand rail on the Cape, which explains why most of it is so old to begin with.
Yes on the trail upgrades, but you also have a number of grade crossings and some fairly tight bends at either end of the canal section. Idk how much impact those would have on max running speed though.
Probably a bit, as you would not want to risk a train flying off of a viaduct or curve at eighty miles an hour.
I love how this group is pretty much first world problems and a few broke people
Truth.
Yes, during the summer. It’s about a 12 week period where we get inundated with self entitled remote workers and executives from CT and NY. They want to enjoy their secluded peaceful second home on Cape Cod, yet also expect it to run 24 hours and have 4 lane highways for their convenience. As other commenters have stated, the bridges need work as it is. It’s difficult to think of taking on a project such as this. The demand year round for the type of services this post is talking about just isn’t there in my opinion.
Cape is heavily car dependent though
Thats the problem
Bizarre you’re getting downvoted. It’s the truth.
That needs to be fixed, too. So ridiculous to need to drive to a place that is 3 blocks away because there's no safe way to walk it.
I agree. I mean, seeing people come off the boat in PTown is fantastic, it makes so much sense. But the people renting cottages for a week aren’t really able to take the train. It’s never going to get reduce the traffic in a significant way.
I wholeheartedly agree
The Cape Flyer is a single track right? Can’t do a whole lot with a single track.
More trains more people. We can import more in the way people when the economy slows down
It will happen the day after the wealthy people decide to book the train.
America doesn't do public transit well at all. It is criminal, sick of our dependency on cars. I get to read on trains, relax on trains, do whatever I want and it's much safer. But then we wouldn't be spending thousands of dollars on cars, insurance, repairs etc etc. I hate it
The problem is capacity at South Station. They’re already committed to adding frequent Fall River and New Bedford service and have committed over $1 billion to South Coast Rail. What is really needed is EMU rail cars so service from the Cape, New Bedford, and Fall River can all merge into one train at Middleborough.
LOL at all the traffic complaints in this subreddit. Yep, it's summer. Yep, it's the Cape.
lol yes, let’s downvote you for stating the obvious
Mos def. Did it Friday into town and it was almost empty. Would love more options tho. That said, ferry to the Cape is the bomb. And Hyannis is the armpit of Massachusetts.
I agree and compare us to Europe why don’t we have better rail service period.
Why would the state invest money to do this when the horrible traffic you are referring to is something that is only an issue for 12 weeks a year tops?
Only 12 weeks 😂
Goal is to have year round service. Also traffic on 3 and 93 is awful year round. Improving rail throughout the state helps the choke points on the Cape but also throughout Metro Boston.