Norfolk Southern Corporation will provide rail service to the Georgia Ports Authority’s (GPA) new inland terminal in Gainesville. The Blue Ridge Connector will connect to the global supply chain in concert with the Port of Savannah’s 35 global container ship services.
“Georgia is among the fastest-growing states and consistently ranked among the top to do business,” said Norfolk Southern Chief Marketing Officer Ed Elkins said in a news release this week. “The Georgia Ports Authority is an important partner to Norfolk Southern, a gateway for our customers, and an engine for economic growth. We look forward to building on our strong relationship and helping our mutual customers grow.”
Norfolk Southern will link the inland terminal to GPA’s Mason Mega Rail terminal in Savannah.
Opening in 2026, the new terminal will serve a range of industries including consumer goods, heavy equipment, food, and forest products. Once completed, the Blue Ridge Connector will have 18,000 feet of trackage and a capacity of 200,000 lifts annually, building upon the nearly 20 percent of GPA’s container cargo that moves by rail today.
(Pictured: Artist rendering of Gainesville’s inland terminal)