SC Ports, Norfolk Southern start daily Charleston-Huntsville rail service
South Carolina Ports and Norfolk Southern launched a daily direct intermodal rail service between the Port of Charleston and Huntsville, Alabama, on September 11. The service is intended to give importers and exporters another rail option for moving containerized cargo between Charleston and inland southeast markets.
The port already provides daily express intermodal services and connections to its Inland Ports Greer and Dillon, as well as intermodal hubs in Memphis, Atlanta, Birmingham, Nashville, Charlotte and Louisville. Norfolk Southern said the new lane strengthens its position in a fast-growing Southeastern freight market and gives cargo owners an additional alternative to truck transportation for port-related moves.
“The intermodal service between Charleston and Huntsville is a meaningful addition for our customers, as we work with our partners at Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) to give shippers greater flexibility and speed to market at the right cost,” Micah Mallace, President and Chief Executive, SC Ports said.
In 2025, the port completed a $55 million expansion of Inland Port Greer that increased its cargo-handling capacity by 50 percent and added 9,000 feet of track to accommodate longer trains. Norfolk Southern provides daily and overnight service to Greer, which is located along the Interstate 85 corridor between Atlanta and Charlotte.
What we know
The service took effect on September 11.
SC Ports completed a $55 million expansion of Inland Port Greer.
The expansion was completed in 2025.
The expansion increased Inland Port Greer’s cargo-handling capacity by 50 percent.
The expansion added 9,000 feet of track to Inland Port Greer to accommodate longer trains.