Press Release | March 19, 2026

Palmetto Railways to start train operations along Salkehatchie Rail Line through Hampton and Colleton Counties

Press Release

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Palmetto Railways will begin operating locomotives and trains along the Salkehatchie Subdivision, a 40-mile rail line that runs through Hampton and Colleton Counties in South Carolina. Activity will start at the end of March and early April.

The Salkehatchie Subdivision is formerly known as the Hampton & Branchville Railroad (H&B). The H&B had ceased operations in Hampton and Colleton Counties in 2012. Through a partnership between Palmetto Railways, Colleton County and the State of South Carolina, the H&B was purchased in 2017 by Palmetto Railways and Colleton County to support future industrial development in this region of the state.

There are a total of 82 private and public at-grade crossings along the 40-mile-long Salkehatchie Rail Line. While safety is paramount at all rail crossings, there are certain public rail crossings that have frequent vehicle traffic and decreased visibility upon approaching the railroad tracks. These are located at:

Country Club Road
Sandy Run Road
Old Salkehatchie Highway
Confederate Highway
Bells Highway
Lowcountry Highway
Ruffin Road

The public is urged to be aware that a train may come at any time. Trains will be sporadic and there is no set schedule. Observe all posted traffic signage. Always expect a train. Trains can be surprisingly quiet. A train may come at any time from either direction. Do not walk, run, sit, play on or near the tracks.

At Palmetto Railways, safety is the number one priority. “See Tracks? Think Train.”

About Palmetto Railways
Palmetto Railways, established in 1969, promotes the economic viability of the State of South Carolina by providing safe, efficient and cost-effective rail solutions to facilitate the movement of freight and to support economic development efforts. Palmetto Railways also provides technical assistance and consulting services in railroad matters to state, local and municipal governments. As a division of the South Carolina Department of Commerce, Palmetto Railways is a Class III terminal switching and short line railroad located in Charleston, S.C., serving the Port of Charleston and multiple industries based in the five-county region of the Lowcountry. Palmetto Railways lines have direct access to both Eastern Class I railroads, CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway.

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