USA - Ship-to-rail hub opened in Port Everglades

A US$73 million intermodal hub was opened in July 2014 in Port Everglades, 17 years after the site was purchased by Broward County.

The new 43-acre intermodal container transfer facility (ICTF) is operated by Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) and has boosted its capacity from 100,000 to 450,000 lifts per year.

The new terminal will allow FECR to form 9,000 ft trains without causing congestion or blockages. Cargo can be moved through Port Everglades to and from Atlanta and Charlotte in two days, to Nashville and Memphis in three days and to 70 per cent of the USA in four days.

The new terminal is expected to reduce road congestion dramatically because much more loading and offloading will take place in the port rather than at offport container depots. It is estimated that, by 2027, the terminal will have reduced the number of trucks on the road by up to 180,000.

FECR is the exclusive rail freight provider for Port Everglades, Port
Miami and Port of Palm Beach. It operates a 351-mile (565 km) freight line along the Florida east coast. Port Everglades handled 927,000 teu in 2013.