SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
GEORGIA TRADE AND LOGISTICS delivered record fuel efficiency.
Norfolk Southern has targeted multiple improvements for Georgia, one of the most important being the proposed double-track expansion at Atlanta’ s Howell Wye railroad junction.
“ More than 80 trains move through a single track crossing each day,” Elkins said.“ By eliminating the chokepoint, we’ ll unlock faster, more predictable service for every shipper in the region.”
South of Atlanta, a passing track from McDonough to Locust Grove will have a length of nearly 25,000 feet— the longest in Georgia. This will improve meet-andpass movements and reduce congestion along one of the state’ s fastest-growing freight corridors.
Digital inspection technology is also transforming reliability.
“ Today, over 75 % of our traffic is scanned through digital inspection portals,” Elkins said.“ Our new Wheel Integrity System is preventing failures before they happen.”
Norfolk Southern has invested more than $ 1 billion in Georgia infrastructure since 2021, with nearly $ 200 million directed to bridges, tracks, terminals and technology annually.
Large-scale investments are boosting freight flows in strategic locations. The McDonough Siding project will add 25,000 feet of new capacity for port-bound traffic; Austell Intermodal Terminal’ s upgrades introduced 8,000- foot leads that enable longer, more efficient trains; Macon Terminal’ s expansion provides a new, 14,000-foot siding and improved bridge clearances that create an alternate route into Atlanta; Howell Wye’ s modernization proposes a double-track redesign that would relieve metro Atlanta’ s most critical freight bottleneck; and the BRC delivers 18,000 feet of track and 200,000 TEUs of inland port capacity.
These projects are part of Norfolk Southern’ s broader, system-wide
modernization program, which delivered over $ 1 billion in upgrades across the network in 2025 alone.
Elkins said NS is fully aligned with GPA’ s growth strategy.
“ We’ re investing in several projects to ensure Georgia customers benefit from a faster, more connected, more competitive intermodal network,” he noted.
In addition to full rail service to the BRC and the Austell Terminal modernization, NS is focusing on multiple clearance projects between Macon and Atlanta to improve inland port-to-gateway efficiency.
Elkins also pointed to the company’ s proposed coast-to-coast merger with Union Pacific, with the idea to create the first fully transcontinental Class I railroad.
“ GPA and its customers will gain a seamless, single-line rail path from the Atlantic to the Pacific,” Elkins said.“ It will reduce interchange delays and open new market reach for Georgia’ s importers and exporters.”
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www. joc. com March 2, 2026 | Journal of Commerce 69