Jacksonville is CSX's hometown and the rail gateway to Florida. The city's terminals handle intermodal freight destined for the Florida peninsula, along with phosphate moving from central Florida mines. JAXPORT's expanding container operations are adding international trade volumes to the city's rail network.
Railroads Serving Jacksonville
Jacksonville is served by CSX and Norfolk Southern, providing solid Class I railroad coverage for freight shippers in the Jacksonville metro area.
CSX
CSX Transportation operates a rail network across 23 eastern states, connecting major ports, production centers, and population hubs. CSX handles intermodal, coal, chemicals, automotive, and agricultural freight.
Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern Railway operates a major rail network in the eastern United States, serving 22 states. NS is a leading carrier for intermodal, coal, automotive, and merchandise freight.
Understanding how Class I and short line railroads work together is key to efficient rail shipping. Read our guide: Short Line vs Class I Railroads.
Key Rail Terminals & Yards
Major rail facilities in and around Jacksonville include:
- Moncrief Yard (CSX)
- Simpson Yard (CSX)
- Jacksonville Intermodal (NS)
These facilities handle car classification, intermodal transfers, and bulk commodity loading and unloading operations. Learn how classification yards sort and route freight in our article: How Railroad Classification Yards Work.
Commodities Shipped by Rail
Key commodities moving by rail through Jacksonville include:
- Intermodal containers
- Phosphate
- Paper products
- Lumber
- Consumer goods
- Automotive
Rail is the most cost-effective way to move bulk commodities over long distances. See our rail vs truck cost comparison to understand when rail makes sense for your freight.
Intermodal & Port Connections
JAXPORT — growing container port with on-dock rail capabilities.
Port access gives Jacksonville shippers the advantage of rail-to-vessel transloading for international trade. Whether you are exporting bulk commodities or importing containerized freight, the combination of rail and port infrastructure creates efficient multimodal supply chain options.
Learn more about how transloading works in our guide: What Is Transloading?
Ready to Ship by Rail from Jacksonville?
Steel Wheel Logistics specializes in bulk commodity rail freight. Whether you are shipping intermodal containers, phosphate, paper products, or other goods by rail from Jacksonville, FL, we can help coordinate competitive rates, car supply, and logistics with the Class I railroads serving your area.
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