Crews at Georgia Ports Authority’s Gainesville Inland Port has worked multiple trains and trucks at the facility since the opening on May 4, 2026, kicking off direct daily rail service between the inland manufacturing hub and the Port of Savannah.

“With the start of operations in Gainesville, we’re extending the reach of the Port of Savannah deep into Northeast Georgia,” said Georgia Ports President and CEO Griff Lynch. “Manufacturers across the region now have a seamless rail connection to more than 40 weekly vessel calls linking to global markets.”

The Gainesville Inland Port gives shippers an alternative to a 600-mile roundtrip truck route that will reduce trucks on Georgia’s highways and in the Atlanta region. GPA expects to shift 26,000 containers to rail in the first year of operation, improving highway traffic flow and reducing emissions.

A crane operator lifts a container from the first train serving the Gainesville Inland Port on Monday, May 4, 2026. The Georgia Ports Authority says the new service will add more supply chain options into the local market’s 330 manufacturers. (Georgia Ports)

About 80 percent of Savannah’s cargo moves inland by truck and 20 percent by rail, with rail becoming more cost-effective beyond 250 miles, especially as diesel prices rise. The port’s speed and flexibility stand out: 40 weekly vessel calls, 42 double-stack trains linking inland markets, and industry-leading rail dwell of 20 hours or less. Truck gates process 14,000–16,000 daily moves, with dual turns under 50 minutes and single moves in 30.

GPA is collaborating with Norfolk Southern on the new service. At full build-out, the $134 million Gainesville Inland Port will have an annual capacity of 200,000 containers.

To reduce the new railyard’s traffic impact on local communities in Gainesville, GPA funded $4.8 million in Hall County road projects, eliminating an at-grade rail crossing, rerouting White Sulphur Road and surfacing Cagle Road. The new White Sulphur route south of the inland terminal ensures free access for emergency vehicles and avoids traffic disruption from trains. The resurfacing of Cagle Road also offers an improved alternative for residents. Both projects were completed in late summer 2025.
Source: GEORGIA PORTS