Trails and Rails

The program's goal is to "reach out to people who may not traditionally visit National Park Service areas", according to former NPS Director Robert Stanton.

[1] The idea behind Trails & Rails first formed from an Amtrak marketing director who was on board the Sunset Limited and overheard a National Park Service ranger talking with passengers about the sites outside the window of the Sightseer Lounge.

[4] Around 2007, NPS began a partnership with the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences (RPTS) at Texas A&M University to house the management of the program there.

RPTS faculty member Susan Scott serves as the Trails & Rails liaison,[5] and coordinates training and support for the program.

Host Parks in other cities around the nation also seek interns from local universities to volunteer aboard the routes in their area.