Georgia Ports' Blue Ridge Connector rail facility to open in spring

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) is set to open its $127 million Blue Ridge Connector inland rail facility in spring 2026.

Located 50 miles from Atlanta in Gainesville, Georgia, the Blue Ridge Connector will be open Monday through Friday to double-stacked rail service to and from the Port of Savannah via Norfolk Southern Railway, GPA officials said in a press release.

Its location in northeast Georgia is a high-growth manufacturing and logistics corridor for heavy equipment, forest products and food exports, with a large amount of international cargo movement, they said.

Currently, freight is moved between Savannah and northeast Georgia by a 300-mile, one-way truck route. Within the first year of operation, the Blue Ridge Connector is anticipated to eliminate 52,000 truck trips through the Atlanta region. That volume could increase to up to 400,000 truck trips based on GPA's demand estimates and service availability.

The shift to rail is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 90%, or 22,510 metric tons, compared to the truck route, said GPA officials.

The Blue Ridge Connector will have an annual lift capacity of 200,000 containers and 18,000 feet of working track.