Georgia Marks the Opening of the Gainesville Inland Port

Published: November 1, 2026

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Norfolk Southern and the Georgia Ports Authority on October 29 marked the Gainesville Inland Port, a rail terminal that ties Northeast Georgia manufacturers to the Port of Savannah. The terminal has been handling freight since May 4. Norfolk Southern runs the link five days a week.

Gainesville Indland Port in Savannah ribbon cutting

The ribbon cutting at Georgia's Gainesville Inland Port in Savannah on October 29, 2026.

What the ceremony celebrated

Norfolk Southern said the site covers 104 acres. At full ramp-up it can handle up to 200,000 lifts a year. Georgia Ports describes the same terminal as a $134 million project with room for 200,000 containers a year at full build-out, and a direct connection to Savannah’s 40 ships a week. The railroad said the port serves about 300 manufacturers in Northeast Georgia. The project was known in planning as the Blue Ridge Connector.

Gov. Brian Kemp said Georgia’s ports are a major reason companies invest and hire in the state, and that the inland port brings that advantage to Northeast Georgia. He said the Savannah connection gives businesses another way to reach customers and eases traffic on the highways. Norfolk Southern Chief Commercial Officer Ed Elkins said the terminal gives customers an efficient way to reach global markets and takes trucks off Georgia highways.

Since 2020, Norfolk Southern said, 78 new and expanding firms have added more than 4,800 jobs and $2 billion in capital investment in Gainesville and Hall County. Trains placed the terminal about 250 miles northwest of Savannah and about 60 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta, with 18,000 feet of track at full build-out. Georgia Ports President and CEO Griff Lynch called it a high-growth market and said the port authority is bringing Savannah closer to Gainesville.

The truck trip the train replaces

Georgia Ports says the rail move stands in for a 600-mile round trip by truck between Gainesville and Savannah. Norfolk Southern said the terminal can shift 26,000 containers from truck to rail in its first year, on roads in the Atlanta area and in Hall County.

Trains noted that Gainesville is Georgia Ports’ second rail-served inland terminal. CSX serves the Appalachian Regional Port in Crandall, in northwest Georgia.

The road work beside the yard

The port authority put $4.8 million into Hall County roads around the terminal. The work rerouted White Sulphur Road so an at-grade crossing could come out, and it left emergency vehicles a way through when a train is on the lead. Cagle Road was improved for local traffic as well.

Sources

Norfolk Southern, October 29, 2026. The railroad joined Gov. Brian Kemp and the Georgia Ports Authority for the Gainesville ceremony. The terminal covers 104 acres, with Norfolk Southern service five days a week to Savannah and capacity for up to 200,000 lifts a year at full ramp-up. About 300 manufacturers. Since 2020, 78 firms, more than 4,800 jobs, and $2 billion in capital investment. A potential shift of 26,000 containers off Atlanta-area and Hall County roads in the first year. Ed Elkins’s remarks are from this account. Georgia Ports invested $4.8 million in Hall County roads, including the White Sulphur Road reroute and the Cagle Road work.
Georgia Ports Authority, Gainesville Inland Port facility page, and the authority’s May 4 opening as stated there and in its May 21, 2026 release. Five-day Norfolk Southern service, 40 ships a week at Savannah, a 600-mile truck round trip, a $134 million cost at full build-out, and capacity for 200,000 containers a year. The facility opened May 4, 2026. Planning name: Blue Ridge Connector.
Georgia Public Broadcasting, October 30, 2026, and WABE, October 30, 2026, reporting Gov. Kemp’s remarks from the ports’ account of the opening. Griff Lynch’s “closer to Gainesville” line is in the Trains report of October 30 and in the same day’s local coverage.
Trains, October 30, 2026. Operations began May 4. About 250 miles northwest of Savannah and 60 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. 18,000 feet of track at full build-out. CSX serves the Appalachian Regional Port in Crandall, the authority’s other rail-served inland terminal.

Facebook X Pinterest Tumblr Reddit WhatsApp Messenger

Georgia Marks the Opening of the Gainesville Inland Port

What the ceremony celebrated

The truck trip the train replaces

The road work beside the yard

Related reading on American-Rails.com

Sources