Georgia Ports Authority Approves $125M Expansion of Mason Mega Rail Facility at Port of Savannah

SAVANNAH, GA — The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) Board of Directors approved a $125-million capital project on Saturday afternoon to expand the Mason Mega Rail facility at the Port of Savannah's Garden City Terminal.

Rail Infrastructure and Intermodal Capacity

The expansion project constructs eight additional 10,000-foot working rail tracks and procures four zero-emission electric rail-mounted gantry (RMG) cranes. The upgrades will increase the Port of Savannah's annual rail lift capacity from 1 million to 1.6 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), enabling the simultaneous loading and dispatch of six 10,000-foot unit trains operated by CSX and Norfolk Southern.

The direct rail connection provides 48-hour intermodal freight transit from Savannah to inland logistics hubs in Atlanta, Memphis, Nashville, and Chicago, bypassing congested interstate highway corridors.

Economic Growth and Maritime Competitiveness

The Port of Savannah handles over 10% of all containerized foreign trade in the United States. GPA leadership highlighted that expanding rail capacity lowers shipping costs for southeastern agricultural exporters, advanced manufacturing facilities, and retail distribution centers across the Sunbelt.

Regional supply chain associations commended the port investment, noting that high-capacity rail terminals provide crucial redundancy as international shipping lines deploy mega-container vessels exceeding 16,000 TEU capacity.

Construction Phasing

Rail spur grading and crane rail installation will begin in October 2026, with the expanded intermodal yard fully operational by early 2028.