September 17th, 2026 – South Carolina Ports and Norfolk Southern have restored direct intermodal rail service between the Port of Charleston and Huntsville, Alabama, expanding transportation options for importers and exporters throughout North Alabama and Middle Tennessee.
The service provides shippers with an alternative to over-the-road trucking for moving containerized cargo between Charleston and one of the Southeast’s fastest-growing manufacturing regions. Norfolk Southern will operate the Charleston-to-Huntsville service six days a week with a transit time of just under five days, while backhaul service to Charleston will operate Monday through Friday.
The restored connection is designed to provide greater transportation flexibility, reliable transit times and cost-effective access to Charleston’s container terminals and global ocean carrier network. It is particularly relevant for manufacturers moving international components and finished goods between the port and production facilities throughout the Tennessee Valley.
Norfolk Southern previously discontinued its international intermodal service between Charleston and Huntsville in May 2025 as part of broader reductions to several East Coast intermodal lanes. The railroad continued operating international intermodal service between the Port of Savannah and Huntsville during that period. Restoring the Charleston connection now gives area importers and exporters another port and rail option for their international supply chains.
The Huntsville route also expands Charleston’s established intermodal network. Approximately 25% of South Carolina Ports’ container volume moves by rail, with connections to Inland Ports Greer and Dillon as well as intermodal hubs in Memphis, Atlanta, Birmingham, Nashville, Charlotte and Louisville.
Huntsville and the broader Tennessee Valley represent a significant freight market supported by aerospace and defense, automotive manufacturing, electronics, technology, pharmaceuticals, distribution and advanced manufacturing. The Port of Huntsville further supports the region through Huntsville International Airport, the International Intermodal Center, Foreign Trade Zone No. 83 and Jetplex Industrial Park, creating an integrated rail, air and truck logistics network.
The automotive sector stands to particularly benefit from the restored rail option. Alabama manufacturers produced approximately 1.1 million vehicles and 1.8 million engines in 2024, creating substantial demand for the movement of imported components and finished vehicles. Additional investment is expected to further increase freight activity in North Alabama, including Honda’s planned $472 million investment through 2029 to expand its regional SUV manufacturing operations.
Automotive supplier Minth Group is also investing $430 million in a new North Alabama manufacturing facility expected to open in 2027. These investments reinforce the region’s growing role in automotive production and the need for reliable connections between international gateways and inland manufacturing facilities.
The new service also complements South Carolina Ports’ broader investments in inland rail connectivity. In 2025, the port completed a $55 million expansion of Inland Port Greer, increasing cargo-handling capacity by 50% and adding 9,000 feet of track to accommodate longer trains. Norfolk Southern provides daily and overnight service to the facility along the Interstate 85 corridor between Atlanta and Charlotte.
For importers, the Charleston–Huntsville connection provides another option for moving internationally sourced components and materials inland without relying solely on trucks. For exporters, the backhaul service provides direct rail access to Charleston and its ocean carrier network for reaching overseas markets. Together, the restored service expands routing flexibility and strengthens the connection between North Alabama and Middle Tennessee manufacturers and global trade.
