The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has officially opened its Gainesville Inland Port, initiating direct daily rail service between the Northeast Georgia manufacturing hub and the Port of Savannah. Operations commenced on May 4, 2026, with crews already handling multiple trains and trucks at the new facility. This infrastructure expansion aims to extend the Port of Savannah's reach and provide enhanced supply chain options for the region's 330 manufacturers.
Georgia Ports President and CEO Griff Lynch said, "With the start of operations in Gainesville, we’re extending the reach of the Port of Savannah deep into Northeast Georgia." He added that manufacturers now have a seamless rail connection to over 40 weekly vessel calls linking to global markets. The Gainesville Inland Port offers shippers an alternative to a 600-mile roundtrip truck route, expected to shift 26,000 containers to rail in its first year, thereby improving highway traffic flow and reducing emissions.
The $134 million Gainesville Inland Port, a collaboration with Norfolk Southern, is projected to achieve an annual capacity of 200,000 containers at full build-out. To mitigate local traffic impact, GPA funded $4.8 million in Hall County road projects, including eliminating an at-grade rail crossing and rerouting White Sulphur Road, completed in late summer 2025. This strategic investment underscores GPA's commitment to creating competitive supply chains and supporting regional economic growth.