The Alabama Port Authority, in partnership with CSX, has started construction on the Montgomery Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF), which is designed to support containerized freight movement between central Alabama and the Port of Mobile. The facility is located on a 272-acre site with direct access to Interstate 85 and Highway 31 and is planned to handle up to 60,000 TEUs per year, equivalent to 30,000 shipping containers.
Funding for the project was secured through federal appropriations, with planning and development beginning in 2022. Since the project's announcement, the surrounding region has seen increased investment from private companies, with reported commitments exceeding $3 billion.
CSX will provide rail services for the new facility, offering connections between inland markets and the Gulf Coast. The ICTF is expected to support freight movement by shifting cargo from highways to rail, reducing road congestion. The facility will operate five days a week, providing express daily service between Montgomery and the Port of Mobile, which is undergoing port deepening to accommodate larger cargo volumes.
Operations at the Montgomery ICTF are scheduled to begin in 2027, with the facility designed to function similarly to the existing Mobile ICTF.
