NS begins operating fully electric cranes at Georgia site

Norfolk Southern Railway this week announced that six new, fully electric cranes are now operating at its intermodal terminal in Austell, Georgia.

The cranes allow the Austell terminal to become a stacked-container facility, NS officials said on Twitter. That upgrade increases the terminal's annual capacity and positions the Class I to capture growth of more than 100,000 containers — double the previous capacity — at the terminal. Stacking operations are expected to begin early this year.

Austrian manufacturer Kuenz Cranes built the cranes, which are the first of their kind in North America, NS officials said. The cranes are designed to reduce carbon emissions, according to the railroad’s website.