Client: Newly Commissioned Southeast US Container Terminal

Introduction

Our port and rail experts established a multi-carrier rail operating plan for a newly commissioned intermodal container terminal at a major Southeast US port, coordinating Class I access and terminal railroad operations from day one.

The Challenge

The terminal had no prior intermodal rail history and required a functional, multi-party operating framework coordinating competing Class I railroads alongside the terminal operating railroad — before the first shipment moved. Without defined service protocols, access rights, and equitable handoff procedures, the terminal risked coordination failures at launch.

What We Did

  • Coordinated operations between competing Class I railroads and the terminal operating railroad to define service protocols, access rights, and handoff procedures.
  • Structured commercial and operational agreements ensuring both Class I carriers had equal, equitable access to inbound and outbound terminal shipments.

Results

Delivered a functional, multi-party operating framework at launch, enabling the terminal to receive intermodal rail service from day one without the coordination failures that commonly affect new terminal openings.