CapeFLYER will soon be flying into Wareham

Apr 25, 2014

Future customers of the CapeFLYER train will soon be able to ride the rail from right here in Wareham.

Construction began Thursday morning along Merchant's Way (behind the Fire Station) for an approximately 400-foot platform and an accompanying canopy-style roof that will allow access to the train which was previously only accessible locally at the Buzzards Bay station.

Selectman Alan Slavin said that work on the platform is expected to be done by Memorial Day weekend, coinciding with the train’s Memorial Day through Labor Day schedule, and that the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority would also be setting up a small bus stop in the nearby parking lot area that will allow riders of the train to access their buses.

Slavin said that the platform itself had been funded by the Massachusetts Department of Transit through the Massachusetts Rail Program.

“There has been no contribution from the town of Wareham,” he said.

The CapeFLYER began operation in the summer of 2013, with stops in South Station, Braintree, Middleboro/Lakeville, Buzzards Bay, and Hyannis.

With the new Wareham location, those in town and from surrounding areas will have access to both Cape Cod and Boston throughout the summer on the train, which runs on Friday evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Those traveling from Wareham (or Buzzards Bay) can get to Hyannis for $5, or $8 for a round trip ticket. Prices vary for the other non-Wareham-based routes.

Tom Cahir, administrator for the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, who run the CapeFLYER in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Transit and the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, said the new stop was brought about partially due to Wareham officials’ support of the potential commuter rail project.  On April 18, Gov. Deval Patrick signed a $12.8 billion transportation bill that included $80,000 for the initial design and permit scoping for a commuter rail station in Wareham.

“Wareham has been a very vocal leader, and they’ve been doing it for several years,” said Cahir, while noting that the success of the CapeFLYER last summer combined with the town’s drive to see a commuter rail in town led to the idea for a Wareham stop for the Cape Cod train. “All of this culminated in Wareham getting a stop.”

Cahir said that ultimately, traffic on Cape Cod roadways combined with underutilized railways on the Cape and elsewhere led to the state’s decision to open up the CapeFLYER last summer.

“The state is saying, ‘this is viable,’” he said.