The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has approved the $92 million Mason Mega Rail Terminal (MMRT) at the Port of Savanah, which will create America’s biggest on-terminal rail facility in North America.
The GPA expects the MMRT to be finished by 2020, by which time the Port of Savanah’s rail annual capacity is also expected to double to 1 million TEU.
According to a statement, the added rail capacity will accommodate 10,000-foot long unit trains on the port’s Garden City Terminal, which it insists will “provide faster, more frequent service over greater distances”.
The port’s expansion plans are consistent with its growth in traffic during the first half of 2018.
In August 2018, its rail cargo from Atlanta and Nashville grew by 34% and 72% respectively.
Read more about the Georgia Ports Authority's plans by reading a Port Technology technical paper
During 2017, the port handled 10% of all US containerized exports.
Speaking about the MMRT, Jimmy Allgood, GPA’s Chairman, commented: “It is no accident the GPA is constructing rail capacity as the demand for rail is growing.
“As part of our strategic planning two years ago, our team identified the growing role intermodal cargo would play in GPA’s long-term success and put into place this plan for expansion.”
“A strengthening economy and a greater reliance on GPA in major inland markets is driving growth at the Port of Savannah,” added Griff Lynch, GPA Executive Director.
“We expect this trend to continue as more customers take advantage of Garden City Terminal’s central location and efficient terminal operations.”
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