An intermodal facility, or one that incorporates multiple modes of transportation, provides for fluid transfer of cargo between water ports, airports, rail stations and trucking facilities. The strategic use of intermodal facilities can expand a company’s reach globally as well as reduce its carbon footprint. North Carolina’s intermodal capacity is growing, increasing global access while creating opportunities for greater efficiency for the state’s business and industry. Rail companies play a vital role in the development of intermodal infrastructure and capacity in North Carolina.
Norfolk Southern Corporation
On Wednesday, March 28, the City of Charlotte signed a lease agreement with Norfolk Southern Corporation. The lease agreement paved the way for construction of a $90 million intermodal facility at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. Of the $90 million, $74.3 million will be invested by Norfolk Southern and the remaining $15.7 million will come from state and federal grants. Once complete, the facility will allow for the transferring of freight between trucks, trains and planes. Norfolk Southern serves every major water port on the East Coast as well as multiple private terminals, Gulf ports, Great Lakes ports and numerous river ports. The facility is scheduled to open in 2014. The economic impact of the facility is estimated to reach $9 billion over the next two decades.
Currently, according to the company’s website, Norfolk Southern employs 1,259 North Carolinians and operates 1,297 miles of track in the state. Its North Carolina facilities include a major rail classification yard in Linwood and intermodal terminals in Charlotte and Greensboro.
CSX Corporation
CSX Corporation, another Class I rail carrier in North Carolina, is undertaking a major infrastructure expansion across the country that will increase its capacity to support double-stacked intermodal container transport. There are 61 locations identified for infrastructure improvements included CSX’s National Gateway Project plan. Last fall, CSX reported five upgrades completed, with 15 more in progress. The project is a public-private partnership intended to improve transportation infrastructure by upgrading three existing rail corridors, including the I-95 Corridor between North Carolina and Baltimore via Washington, D.C.; and the Carolina Corridor between Wilmington and Charlotte North Carolina. The National Gateway Project spans six states and involves improvements to both rail and intermodal terminal capacity. Project completion is expected by 2015.
According to the company’s website, CSX employed 1,100 North Carolinians in 2010 and operates and maintains more than 1,700 miles of track in the state. Its North Carolina facilities include major rail yards in Hamlet and Rocky Mount, a CSX intermodal terminal in Charlotte and TRANSFLO terminals in Charlotte, Raleigh, Wilmington and Winston-Salem.