Palmetto Railways announced on March 19 that it will begin operating locomotives and trains along the Salkehatchie Subdivision, a 40-mile rail line running through Hampton and Colleton Counties in South Carolina. Train activity is set to commence at the end of March and into early April.
The reactivation of this rail line, formerly known as the Hampton & Branchville Railroad (H&B), follows its closure in these counties in 2012. The purchase of the H&B by Palmetto Railways and Colleton County in 2017 was part of a partnership with the State of South Carolina aimed at supporting future industrial development in the region.
There are 82 private and public at-grade crossings along the Salkehatchie Rail Line. Several public crossings—Country Club Road, Sandy Run Road, Old Salkehatchie Highway, Confederate Highway, Bells Highway, Lowcountry Highway, and Ruffin Road—are noted for frequent vehicle traffic and limited visibility. The public is urged to exercise caution as trains will operate without a set schedule. “Always expect a train. Trains can be surprisingly quiet. A train may come at any time from either direction,” Palmetto Railways said in its announcement.
Safety remains a top priority for Palmetto Railways. The company emphasized its message: “See Tracks? Think Train.”
Established in 1969, Palmetto Railways operates as a division of the South Carolina Department of Commerce. It provides rail solutions to facilitate freight movement and support economic development efforts across Charleston and other areas within South Carolina’s Lowcountry.
