Georgia ports hold grand opening for expanded NS's container rail yard

GEORGIA Ports Authority has announced that its expanded Mason Intermodal Container Transfer Facility is now open for business, after improvements were made to reduce the transit time for round-trip Norfolk Southern train movements to Atlanta by six hours.

"These improvements allow Norfolk Southern to offer an efficient, competitive route to the large inland port just up the road-Atlanta," said Jeffrey Heller, NS group vice president of international intermodal services.

According to GPA executive director Curtis Foltz, the US$6.5 million, 6,000-foot rail yard extension will expand capacity, improve efficiencies and reduce costs for customers.

"The rail yard's increased efficiency will save time on each container transfer handled at Mason ICTF, saving port customers money," said Mr Foltz.

With this expansion, the Garden City Terminal's two rail yards, serving Class I rail providers Norfolk Southern and CSX, now feature a total of 46,921 linear feet of track.

"Our two on-terminal facilities mean shippers don't have to haul their goods to remote rail yards, and can get cargo moving to distribution centres or other destinations more quickly," Mr Foltz said.

Previously, trains entered the Mason ICTF from the east and exited toward the west, which required the trains to make a wide loop through Garden City. The expanded lines, working in conjunction with Norfolk Southern, will allow arriving trains to enter from the west. The cars will be switched on terminal, with trains later exiting toward the west. The new operation will avoid the use of 21 at-grade rail crossings.

The state Department of Transportation and the Georgia Ports Authority worked in tandem on a Highway 307 overpass and the rail expansion projects in order to boost efficiency for both truck and rail transport. The DOT-funded overpass routes trucks above the one previous rail line and the six expanded tracks at Mason ICTF.

"This infrastructure investment helps prepare the Port of Savannah for projected increases in the share of container volumes moved via rail," added GPA board chairman Robert Jepson. "Currently, 18 per cent of Savannah's container volume is moved by train."