Known as the United States' extensive intercity passenger rail operator, Amtrak operates more than 300 trains each day to more than 500 destinations including two stations in Summerville -- Dorchester and Richland. It also has its South Carolina main office and station in North Charleston. Tourists can take advantage of interstate tours where Summerville is the sole or one of the key destinations in their trips.
All South Carolina Amtrak stations provide enclosed waiting areas and baggage assistance services. Assistance for those with special needs is also available. Amtrak operates a total of four long-distance trains throughout South Carolina: The Crescent featuring daily New York-Atlanta-New Orleans itinerary (via Greenville); The Palmetto featuring daily New York-Savannah itinerary (via Charleston); The Silver Meteor featuring daily New York-Miami itinerary (via Charleston); and The Silver Star featuring daily New York-Tampa-Miami itinerary (via Columbia).
The Nature Train is a one-hour train tour offered by the Magnolia Plantation and Garden. Each tour begins at the Nature Train depot near the main parking area and there is typically a tour train departing every half an hour.
The Nature Train allows tourists to experience history and wildlife through sights of the plantation's wetlands, lakes and forests. A naturalist also provides significant information about the flora and fauna to see during the trip, along with the history behind the vast landscape of the plantation.
The Charleston Visitor Center, formerly the South Carolina Rail Road station, features a long train shed now housing a series of displays showcasing the history of Charleston, along with tourist offerings such as tours, local amenities, popular boutiques, museums and shops. It also features motorized trolleys operated by the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority, the state's local transit authority. Also known as the DASH trolleys (Downtown Area Shuttles), each trip departs from the visitor center passing toward King and Meeting streets. It then continues to the Marion Square Park, College of Charleston, trendy stores within the King Street shopping district, the Charleston market and other local attractions.
During the trip, passengers can enjoy nearby assemblies of pastel-colored historic houses and parkland mostly situated at the tip of Charleston near the Ashley and Cooper rivers. A multisensory presentation entitled "Forever Charleston" is also shown for the passengers' entertainment.
