Norfolk Southern is now offering a direct rail service from the Port of Charleston, South Carolina, to Huntsville, Alabama, to expand rail access to Southeast markets, according to a Sept. 11 press release.
The daily rail service aims to extend the Port of Charleston’s reach to markets in North Alabama and Middle Tenneesee, according to the release.
Twenty-five percent of volume from SC Ports is moved by rail, per the release. Customers have the benefit of using intermodal hubs in Atlanta, Birmingham, Alabama; Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Louisville, Kentucky, for faster connectivity.
SC Ports has made several investments to strengthen its port operations and boost competitiveness. Last year, the port completed a $55 million expansion of its Inland Port Greer, per the release. The expansion helped increase cargo capacity by 50% and added 9,000 feet of additional rail to handle longer trains more efficiently.
Last month, the port signed an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to investigate where it can deepen the channel at its North Charleston terminal. Deepening the channel could help drive cargo growth and ensure expedited logistics for shippers, SC Ports President and CEO Micah Mallace said in a press release.
Norfolk Southern already operates a daily and overnight service to Inland Port Greer, which is strategically located along the I-85 corridor between Atlanta and Charlotte, the release says.
