I love trains! They're civilized. There's plenty of room and you can live normally as you travel: sit in comfort, stroll around and chat with other travelers, even enjoy fine dining as you roll. New England has a number of scenic and historic railways.

The age of gracious train travel may be long past, but you can still experience it in Hyannis by boarding a Cape Cod Central Railroad excursion train for a 46-mile (74-km) ride through the beautiful salt marsh country and cranberry bogs of the Cape, all the way to the Cape Cod Canal and its bridges, enjoying fine dining as you roll.

Your multi-course lunch, Sunday brunch or dinner is prepared fresh in the onboard kitchen and served by experienced railroad waiters right at your table decorated with fresh flowers. There's full bar service.

You ride in authentic 20th-century rail cars that have been carefully restored and fitted with 21st-century safety and comforts, including climate control. Traction is by diesel locomotive.

The Cape Cod Central Railroad offers a variety of rail excursions, including the Luncheon Train, Sunday Brunch Train, Elegant Dinner Train, Family Supper Train, and the Scenic Fun Train (with a snack bar).

The Hyannis railroad station is right in the town center at the corner of Main and Center Streets (map), next to the Hyannis Transportation Center and within walking distance of downtown Hyannis.

You must have reservations to ride the trains, so call in advance.

By the way, if you'd like to take a Hyannis harbor cruise, Cape Cod Central Railroad has a package deal with Hy-Line Cruises: you get the 2-hour scenic train excursion and a harbor cruise at a discount. You needn't take both tours on the same day. More...

Cape Cod Central Railroad
252 Main Street (map)
Hyannis MA 02601
Tel toll-free: 888-797-7245