SC Ports, Norfolk Southern expand intermodal access to Huntsville

Norfolk Southern said the new lane strengthens its position in a fast-growing Southeastern freight market and gives cargo owners an additional alternative to truck transportation for port-related moves.

“The Port of Charleston is a critical gateway to one of the fastest-growing regions in the country,” said Shawn Tureman, Norfolk Southern’s vice president of intermodal automotive. “This service between Charleston and Huntsville gives shippers another reliable, cost-effective option for moving cargo throughout the Southeast.”

South Carolina exported $38 billion in goods in 2024, of which $37.2 billion was manufactured products. Transportation equipment, including vehicles and tires, accounted for $19.2 billion, while imported auto parts, engines and transmissions exceeded $3.5 billion. The Port of Charleston is especially exposed to two-way flows from China and Germany, the largest origins for imports entering through the port, according to the Richmond Federal Reserve. That matters for Huntsville-area factories that source components globally.

Huntsville and the wider Tennessee Valley are a high-value freight market shaped by aerospace and defense, automotive manufacturing, electronics, technology, pharmaceuticals, distribution and advanced manufacturing. The Port of Huntsville combines Huntsville International Airport, the International Intermodal Center, Foreign Trade Zone No. 83 and the Jetplex Industrial Park, giving shippers a rail-air-truck logistics platform.

The launch builds on SC Ports’ broader effort to improve inland rail connectivity. In 2025, the port completed a $55 million expansion of Inland Port Greer that increased its cargo-handling capacity by 50% and added 9,000 feet of track to accommodate longer trains. Norfolk Southern provides daily and overnight service to Greer, which is located along the Interstate 85 corridor between Atlanta and Charlotte.

For Charleston, the new Huntsville connection could help draw discretionary cargo from North Alabama and Middle Tennessee by giving shippers a direct rail route to the port’s container terminals and ocean-carrier network. The service also expands Norfolk Southern’s intermodal offerings tied to Charleston at a time when ports and railroads are emphasizing faster, more reliable inland distribution options across the Southeast.

Subscribe to FreightWaves’ Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your inbox.

Read more articles by Stuart Chirls here.

Read more:

BNSF, CPKC, and CSX to request broad access to a combined UP-NS network

Summer wanes but railfreight stays hot

102 Dems to STB: Put labor first in UP-NS rail merger review

Rail freight gains ride steelmaking, energy sectors

DOT unveils plan to turn highways, rail lines into multi‑use utility arteries