The burgeoning manufacturing and logistics hub of Rocky Mount, NC has received another rail-related boost. The new Wilmington-Rocky Mount Express is a new rail line that now connects the Port of Wilmington (North Carolina) with the CSX Connector in Rocky Mount.
About the Wilmington-Rocky Mount Express
The Express is a 140-mile rail line that extends from the Port of Wilmington to the CSX Connector terminal in Rocky Mount.
The Carolina Connector from CSX is an intermodal rail terminal that sits on 330 acres in Rocky Mount, NC, which is located in the Eastern part of the state. The terminal enables rail containers to be offloaded from freight cars arriving at the terminal and then loaded onto another train or truck for final distribution. The rail terminal offers direct connections to major Midwest hubs like Chicago and St. Louis.
The intermodal site can currently handle 1,250,000 containers a year. However, as the original 330-acre site has been built with the ability to expand to over 700 acres, the operation can grow relatively quickly to handle 2,500,000 containers a year.
According to the Rocky Mount Telegram, CSX is touting the Wilmington-Rocky Mount Express as the “fastest ship-to-rail service on the East Coast.” It enables cargo to reach the Midwest in five to seven days.
About the Port of Wilmington
The timing of the Express coming online coincides nicely with the continued manufacturing growth of the Rocky Mount region. Many top manufacturers call the region home, including Cummins, Sherwin-Williams, Corning and Bridgestone. Local officials are currently courting manufacturers of electric vehicles batteries to a 1,900-acre megasite in Edgecombe County.
For these and other manufacturers in the region, having a direct link to the Port of Wilmington is advantageous. The Port is ranked 21st in the country in terms of container traffic, with about 2.8 million tons of cargo moving through it in fiscal year 2022. That represents a 27% increase compared to fiscal year 2021.
To remain competitive and attract the larger ships that call upon major US ports, there is also a project underway to deepen the Port’s harbor from 42 feet to 47 feet. Work on the project is moving slowly, but there is progress being made.
Turn to Kanban Logistics to take advantage of Eastern NC logistics
Kanban Logistics can help you take advantage of the recent rail enhancements within the Tar Heel state, as well as the increased manufacturing presence within Rocky Mount. Kanban has over 1 million square feet of warehousing space in Eastern North Carolina, including a facility in Rocky Mount right near the Connector. This Rocky Mount facility can receive rail cars right up to our rail-sided warehouse and we can unload center-beam cars in our transload yard.
To learn more about our capabilities and how we can support your East Coast operations, contact Kanban Logistics today.
