The Waitlist gave us real visibility into how much demand we had for these experiences. It not only helped us manage cancellations, but it also gave us the confidence to plan even bigger for next year,

Jess Podgurski
Reservations Department Supervisor

Cape Cod Central Railroad expected strong interest when they launched its Valentine’s Day Dinner Train in 2024  as well as their new Valentine’s Day Brunch Train this year. What they discovered was an overwhelming demand. By using FareHarbor’s Waitlist tool, the team uncovered nearly $200K in additional booking demand, simplified cancellation management, reduced inbound phone inquiries, and gained valuable insight to inform future growth decisions.

Cape Cod Central Railroad

Cape Cod Central Railroad offers scenic rail journeys through the heart of Cape Cod, pairing historic charm with curated onboard dining and seasonal experiences. From elegant dinner trains to themed events, the railroad creates memorable moments that draw both visitors and locals throughout the year.

This year, the team offered a  Valentine’s Day Dinner Train and introduced a  Valentine’s Day Brunch Train, designed to give guests a unique way to celebrate the holiday.

Challenge: Sold-out Valentine’s Day trains and limited visibility into demand

Cape Cod Central Railroad’s  Valentine’s Day Dinner and Brunch trains sold out quickly, exceeding expectations. With limited seating on each departure, once tickets were gone, prospective guests had no clear path to express their interest.

This left the team with two challenges. First, they risked losing ready-to-book customers when departures reached capacity. Second, they had no concrete way to measure how much additional demand existed beyond their available seats, making it difficult to confidently decide whether expanding the offering next year would be worthwhile.

Solution: Capturing excess demand with Waitlist

To avoid losing high-intent guests after departures sold out, Cape Cod Central Railroad activated FareHarbor’s Waitlist tool directly within the booking flow. When Valentine’s Day Dinner and Brunch trains reached capacity, guests were prompted to join the waitlist instead of leaving the site empty-handed.

Across both offerings, nearly 1,400  guests joined the waitlist, giving the team a centralized way to manage interest and fill cancellations more efficiently. Instead of manually tracking availability, staff could view and manage waitlisted guests in one place.

The tool also reduced inbound phone calls and administrative work. By giving guests a self-serve option to express interest, the team eliminated an estimated 300 calls  of manual coordination ahead of Valentine’s Day weekend, allowing staff to focus on delivering a seamless guest experience.

The Results

After both Valentine’s Day departures sold out, the waitlist revealed over $200,000 in unmet booking demand. This ensured that cancellation spots could be filled more efficiently while keeping high-intent guests engaged instead of losing them altogether.

Most importantly, the volume of waitlisted guests gave Cape Cod Central Railroad clear, measurable proof that demand far exceeded capacity. Based on this insight, the team plans to run two departures of each Valentine’s Day experience next year, a decision projected to generate approximately $40,000 in additional revenue. By turning excess demand into actionable data, Waitlist is helping the railroad plan future growth with confidence.

Enable Waitlist today to unlock more bookings and say goodbye to the hassle of manual waitlist management.