NEW INLAND RAIL HUB
The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) recently overcame a significant environmental obstacle paving the way for construction of a new rail hub in northeast Georgia. GPA has been waiting for the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) study to be cleared since 2021, as it was a prerequisite to secure $46.8 million in federal funding for the construction of the new facility in Gainesville. Now that the permits for the project have already been obtained, the GPA is optimistic about the rail hub opening in 2026.
The roughly $170 million project will boast a 200,000-lift capacity inland port in Gainesville, Georgia, a suburb of Savannah and is expected to be open for business in 2026. The Northeast Georgia Inland Port’s plans were proposed in 2018 but were postponed due to a lack of funds. The federal grant will bring the project to completion, with the GPA contributing around $100 million.
“It’s been mutually beneficial to the port and our neighbors, by increasing our capability while simultaneously improving quality of life in our surrounding communities. Expansion projects spanning our berths, terminal space and rail infrastructure are delivering the capacity we need to handle our projected growth for decades to come.”
Griff Lynch, Executive Director
Georgia Ports Authority
SAVANNAH: SUPPLY CHAIN HOTSPOT
The proposed inland rail hub is expected to become a major player in the shipping industry due to the booming economic development in the region. Experts anticipate roughly 50,000 to 60,000 container lifts per year at this new hub, which represents a significant increase compared to the 33,024 container lifts handled by GPA’s nearby Appalachian Regional Port (ARP) in 2022. Despite being in operation for only a few years, ARP has already experienced a remarkable 74% volume growth since its launch in 2019.
Kubota Manufacturing of America, a farm and construction equipment maker, will be the Northeast Georgia Inland Port’s anchor customer with a manufacturing plant located directly adjacent to the port-owned 104-acre property. The inland port is expected to serve mostly inbound cargo, with poultry being the primary export for the region. Norfolk Southern Railway will provide overnight service on the 324-mile route between Savannah’s Garden City Terminal and the inland port, while GPA will manage the facility and the 9,000 feet of working track.
GREEN WORLDWIDE SHIPPING GROWS WITH SAVANNAH
International freight forwarder, Green Worldwide Shipping is supporting this business boom in Savannah with the addition of a new warehouse facility. Green Worldwide Shipping’s new warehouse and logistics complex is located close to the Port of Savannah and the proposed new inland terminal. Green Worldwide’s location offers shippers access to 44% of the U.S. population via the Port of Savannah. The facility offers a multitude of warehousing solutions such as: transload and cross-dock, order fulfillment, inspection control, storage & distribution, inventory management, order management, kitting & assembly, as well as global freight forwarding, customs clearance, and domestic logistics services. Green Worldwide Shipping also offers transatlantic freight consolidation from Europe to Savannah enabling businesses to get products to U.S. consumers quickly and efficiently.
With the Northeast Georgia Inland Port’s expected opening in 2026, businesses and industries in the region anticipate a boost in economic activity and improved shipping services. Green Worldwide Shipping’s new warehousing facility and the new inland port’s location near major highways and railways will provide easier and faster access to the rest of the country, allowing businesses in the region to expand their reach and grow their customer base.
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