The Port of Savannah and the St Louis Regional Freightway signed a deal to construct a US$220 million rail facility, in order to improve the regional and wider US supply chain. The project is part of the port’s $3 billion plan to increase its TEU capacity to 8 million by 2028.
Specifically, the new rail project will play an important role serving the St Louis region, which is a key import, export market.
According to the statement, the project is expected to be completed around 2020, and will be the biggest on-terminal facility of its kind in North America.
In addition, the rail facility will also improve efficiency and double terminal lift capacity to approximately 1 million containers per year.
John Trent, Senior Director of Strategic Operations and Safety at the Georgia Ports Authority commented
We offer a premium, lower cost option and, in addition, we provide that consistency. We believe we have a viable solution to not only support existing business in the St. Louis region, but also to grow business in the St. Louis region.
Concluding, the unit train capacity will enable rail providers CSX and Norfolk Southern to deliver faster and more frequent rail service to Midwest markets.
