Major improvements on track
for Cape Cod Central Railroad
Evidently, someone is working on the railroad.
They’ll be at it for all the live-long day for the next two years, and they’re bringing new food, new services and a new look to the Cape Cod Central Railroad.
Known for its scenic excursions, dining trips and seasonal and holiday-themed journeys, the Cape Cod Central Railroad is getting an upgrade.
In the next two years, a team of four experts from the rail industry will join Cape Rail Inc.’s general manager Eric Ciborowski and Kaylene Jablecki, sales and marketing manager of the Cape Cod Central Railroad.
Coming aboard are: David Duncan, general manager of Pullman Rail Journeys; Steven Torrico, assistant general manager of Pullman Rail Journeys; and Mark Salis, passenger services manager of the Saratoga and North Creek Railway.
The fourth expert, Daniel Traynor, can tell you who’s in the kitchen with Dinah. Traynor, director of food and beverage of the Premier Rail Collection, began his career aboard the McKinley Explorer in Alaska, where he cooked in dome cars. He then moved on to upscale kitchens throughout Chicago, including Fred’s Restaurant at Barneys and Prasino. He joined Pullman Rail Journeys as executive chef two years ago and now heads the food and beverage services for the entire passenger rail operation.
“Cape Cod Central is part of a family of railroads — the Premier Rail Collection,” Jablecki said. “Many of these railroads offer acclaimed dining service. We have the knowledge and expertise within our organization to elevate the level of service and customer satisfaction to a point where the Cape Cod Central Railroad will be a truly first-class experience for locals and visitors.”
CCCR’s dream team was recruited from within Premier Rail Collection. Each of the four experts work to design on-board services for all of the group’s other scenic railroads, as well as Pullman Rail Journeys.
First things first, however. The team huddled recently to begin work on the upcoming transformation and to assess the state of the railroad as it stands — including tasks ranging from examining equipment to evaluating menus.
“It’s a major investment, but one we feel will be worth the time and effort,” Jablecki said.
The first noticeable changes are likely to be the on-board services. Cosmetic changes, which are also part of the plan, will happen over time.
Trips will begin again during the second quarter of the year — weather and on-board upgrades notwithstanding. Visitors looking for a trip on an authentic heritage railroad have several options:
The Shoreline Excursion gives passengers an up-close look at the Cape on an excursion that originates at the Hyannis station (252 Main St., Hyannis). Wooded tracts, dunes, marshes and cranberry bogs glide by as the train cuts through sections of Cape Cod that aren’t accessible by car. It’s a chance to get a look at the Cape from within, experiencing the landscape from a different point of view. The roughly two-hour journey travels out to the Cape Cod Canal and back. Tickets for this trip are $15 for kids ages 2 to 12 and $20 for age 13 and older.
In recent years, the railway has offered several dining trips: the Cape Cod Dinner Train ($84; private tables for two are an additional $40), the Yankee Clipper Brunch Train ($55 for adults, $33 for kids ages 2 to 12; private tables for two are an additional $40), the Colonial Lunch Train ($49 for adults, $39 for kids ages 2 to 12) and the Family Supper Train ($54 for adults, $39 for kids ages 2 to 12) — all of which will benefit from the upgrades.
“Our chef is in the process of updating the menus for this upcoming season,” Jablecki said.
Currently, there are three dining cars. The Great Island, named after the island on the Cape’s south side, was built in 1937. The Race Point car, named after Race Point at the end of Provincetown, was built in 1942 and completely gutted and rebuilt by the Cape Cod Central shops in 2001. The Sandy Neck, bearing the name of the beach on the north side of Barnstable, was built in 1937.
The CCCR runs a “Train to Christmas Town.” The trip, from Buzzards Bay, started last year during the holidays and is based on the book of the same name by Peggy Ellis, the wife of Iowa Pacific Holdings president Ed Ellis.
Cape Cod Central Railroad executives hope to serve 25,000 people this year.
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