Norfolk Southern increases Charleston-Charlotte intermodal service

The South Carolina Ports Authority late last week announced that two-day Norfolk Southern Railway intermodal service between Charleston and Charlotte, N.C., has begun operating five days per week.

NS previously offered the service two times a week.

The increase in service represents a "significant enhancement" to international intermodal rail service between the Port of Charleston and the Charlotte Regional Intermodal Facility at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, SCPA officials said in a press release.

The added service began March 12.

"Charlotte is most logically served via the Port of Charleston, and this link provides a very reliable rail option that has not previously existed," said SCPA President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Newsome. "The Charlotte market is fast-growing and offers a very diverse containerized cargo base, including furniture, home improvement goods, general department store merchandise, and chemicals."

Containers moving between Charleston and Charlotte will be transported on an existing NS overnight intermodal train between Charleston and Spartanburg, S.C., where they will connect to intermodal train service between Spartanburg and Charlotte.