Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has announced a new rail route to North Carolina delivering faster speed and more flexibility to trade players in the region.

In a statement, the GPA said North Carolina importers and exporters can now tap into a faster supply chain through a direct rail connection between the Port of Savannah and Rocky Mount, North Carolina, via the CSX Carolina Connector (CCX) Intermodal terminal.

"This is an exciting logistics solution for existing and new customers across North Carolina," said Griff Lynch, president and CEO of Georgia Ports Authority.

"In collaboration with CSX, we're offering daily access and faster service, bringing world-class port services to the doorstep of the area's business and industry," he added.

The Georgia Ports Authority and CSX have teamed to provide 7-day-a-week rail departures between GPA's Mason Mega Rail Terminal in Savannah and the Eastern North Carolina location, offering customers three-day ship-to-shore transit time.

Kevin Boone, executive vice president of sales and marketing at CSX, welcomed what he described as a "transformative partnership" between GPA and CSX which reflects the company's commitment to connect markets and propel economic progress for the region.

"The integration of GPA's On-Dock Rail and the Inland Port at CCX signifies a leap forward in providing efficient, sustainable, and dynamic rail-to-truck inland port container service for our customers," the CSX executive added.

"Through this strategic collaboration with the Georgia Ports Authority and our ongoing partnership with the State of North Carolina and North Carolina Ports, CSX is charting a new course in logistics excellence," Boone further said.

GPA noted that the CCX is located on an efficient, high-speed, high-capacity mainline rail route. Cargo departing the Port of Savannah is available to customers on the third day after leaving Garden City Terminal.

"Customers can get access to cargo more quickly on the Carolina Connector service because Savannah is the first port of call for ocean carriers transiting the Panama Canal," Lynch said.

"Containers are ready for pick-up at CCX before they can even be unloaded from a vessel at other ports further up the coast," he added.

On-dock rail service expedites container handling.

GPA noted that its Mason Mega Rail features 85 acres and 24 miles of on-terminal track, making it the largest intermodal facility on a port in the Americas with a capacity to grow future cargo volumes. 

As one of the fastest growing ports in the U.S. with 37 weekly services, GPA said the Port of Savannah offers more containership calls linking more world markets than any other port in the mid-Atlantic or U.S. Southeast.

Savannah is also one of the highest-ranked, most-connected ports in the U.S., ideally connecting North Carolina supply chains to world markets.

"For customers, Savannah's superior connectivity means more options on sourcing and routing goods, and, for exporters, better access to global markets to sell their products," said Cliff Pyron, chief commercial officer at the GPA.

In the announcement, GPA said CCX offers a shorter drive than routes to mid-Atlantic ports, reducing trucking costs, emissions and highway traffic congestion.

Additionally, rail service from Savannah to the region reduces carbon emissions by 78% compared to an all-truck haul.

"The region's import-export cargo mix adds to the efficiency of the service because containers can be loaded with goods going both directions," said Maryclare Kenney, vice president of intermodal and auto at CSX.

"Major importers include furniture sellers and big box retailers."