SC Ports, Norfolk Southern expand intermodal access to Huntsville
South Carolina Ports and Norfolk Southern have launched daily direct intermodal rail service between the Port of Charleston and Huntsville, Ala., expanding the port’s reach into north Alabama and Middle Tennessee.
South Carolina Ports and Norfolk Southern have launched daily direct intermodal rail service between the Port of Charleston and Huntsville, Ala., expanding the port’s reach into north Alabama and Middle Tennessee.
The service took effect Sept. 11 and is intended to give importers and exporters another rail option for moving containerized cargo between Charleston and inland southeast markets, according to SC Ports. The port said the lane will offer shippers greater flexibility, speed to market and cost-effective connectivity.
“The intermodal service between Charleston and Huntsville is a meaningful addition for our customers, as we work with our partners at Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) to give shippers greater flexibility and speed to market at the right cost,” SC Ports President and Chief Executive Micah Mallace said in a statement. “Strong intermodal connectivity and reliable port service are key to delivering the efficiency and consistency our customers need.”
The Huntsville service adds to Charleston’s existing rail network, which moves about 25% of SC Ports’ container volume by rail. The port already provides daily express intermodal services and connections to its Inland Ports Greer and Dillon, as well as intermodal hubs in Memphis, Atlanta, Birmingham, Nashville, Charlotte and Louisville.
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.
