Virginia Port’s newly expanded central rail yard is now fully operational, marking the successful completion of a project that enhances the port’s rail capacity to 2 million TEUs annually.
According to Stephen A. Edwards, CEO and Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority, who spoke at the inauguration ceremony, this expansion improves the port’s connectivity to key Midwestern population and manufacturing hubs via rail.
“Modernizing and expanding the capability at NIT’s [Norfolk International Terminals] central rail yard gives us additional rail capacity ahead of the completion of the first phase of expansion at NIT’s North Berth [in 2025],” said Edwards.
The inauguration event was attended by Virginia Transportation Secretary W. Sheppard “Shep” Miller III, US Deputy Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg, Maritime Administrator Rear Admiral (Ret.) Ann Philips, US Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA), as well as industry leaders.
“We are proud to be a steward of this port modernization project contributing a $20 million investment which not only expands the Norfolk International Terminals’ central rail yard but serves to elevate the entire Port of Virginia as a critical hub for trade on the East Coast,” commented Polly Trottenberg, Deputy Transportation Secretary.
The construction works on the US$83 million project, which began in 2022, were completed on time and within budget, according to the Virginia Port Authority.
This project is part of the US port’s broader US$1.4 billion Gateway Investment Program. Funding included a US$20 million federal grant and a US$20 million grant from the state Department of Rail and Public Transportation.
The expansion features two new rail track bundles and three all-electric cantilever rail-mounted gantry cranes, adding 455,000 TEUs of on-dock rail capacity, a 31% increase port-wide.
Port of Virginia is regularly served by both East Coast’s Class I rail carriers, Norfolk Southern and CSX, providing consistent on-dock, double-stack rail service.
