The Saluda Grade Trail would be created through a federal “railbanking” program that converts an inactive rail corridor to a trail until the route is needed again for rail transportation. Although it is possible that the route could be used as a rail line again, it has been inactive for over 20 years and the rails are inoperable. Norfolk Southern Railroad has entered an agreement on terms of a future sale and has no plans to use this line for trains in the foreseeable future.