Port of Virginia launches expanded rail yard at Norfolk International Terminals
The Port of Virginia has opened a larger intermodal yard at Norfolk International Terminals (NIT), aiming to enhance resilience against weather disruptions without significantly impacting cargo owners. This $83 million project, completed in two years, increases annual on-dock rail capacity by 455,000 TEUs, bringing the total rail capacity at the port to 2 million TEUs when combined with Virginia International Gateway (VIG).
Norfolk Southern Railway is the primary rail provider at NIT, while CSX handles containers routed through VIG. Stephen Edwards, CEO of the Virginia Port Authority, stated that the expanded rail yard will improve rail service reliability and consistency. The additional capacity allows for quicker recovery from disruptions, such as storms, by providing extra space to manage backlogs and reduce dwell times.
Midwestern cargo owners will benefit most from the expanded yard, as the port annually moves over 100,000 pier containers to Chicago and 25,000-45,000 containers to cities like Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, and Louisville.
Additionally, the Port of Virginia is nearing completion of a major overhaul to accommodate the largest container ships visiting the US. This includes a dredging project to deepen the harbor to 55 feet, expected to be finished next year, and the first phase of expanding NIT’s North terminal, set to be operational in 2025.
Stay Informed: https://lnkd.in/eU47WGuJ