How container drayage works in Chambersburg and Greencastle
Norfolk Southern's Franklin County Regional Intermodal Facility in Greencastle reopened in 2021 for domestic intermodal freight. It serves the warehouse corridor along I-81 in south-central Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia.
- Rail ramp
- Franklin County Regional Intermodal Facility, Greencastle
- Capacity
- About 100,000 lifts a year
- Warehouses
- Chambersburg, Shippensburg and Hagerstown
- Corridor
- I-81
More about drayage in Chambersburg
Norfolk Southern opened the Franklin County Regional Intermodal Facility in Greencastle in January 2013 as part of its Crescent Corridor, a public-private program to shift truck freight on I-81 and I-40 to rail. The terminal was idled in 2019, then reopened in September 2021 to handle domestic intermodal traffic, initially between Memphis and the Harrisburg area.
The facility can handle about 100,000 lifts a year, and it gives shippers in Franklin County and nearby Maryland and West Virginia access to Norfolk Southern's network without driving to Harrisburg. Local drayage carriers move containers between Greencastle and warehouses in Chambersburg, Shippensburg, Hagerstown and the I-81 corridor.
1
Rail ramp
Railroads
Norfolk Southern · CSX
Main highways
I-81 · US-30 · US-11 · PA-16 · I-70 (Maryland)
Container terminals and rail ramps in Chambersburg
Where containers are picked up and returned in the Chambersburg area.
Rail ramp
Franklin County Regional Intermodal Facility
Rail ramp · Norfolk Southern
Crescent Corridor terminal in Greencastle; opened January 2013, idled 2019, reopened September 2021; about 100,000 lifts a year capacity.
The I-81 distribution corridor
Interstate 81 is one of the busiest truck routes in the East, connecting the Northeast with the Southeast via the Shenandoah Valley. In Franklin and Cumberland counties, it has drawn many large distribution centers, attracted by available land and access to markets from Washington to New York. Chambersburg, Shippensburg and Greencastle have seen rapid warehouse growth, with retailers, food distributors and e-commerce companies building facilities.
Hagerstown, Maryland, just south of the state line, is another major distribution hub along the same corridor.
Agriculture and manufacturing
Franklin County is also agricultural, with dairy, fruit and grain farms. Food processors and packers ship products nationwide. Manufacturers in the region produce machinery, building products and consumer goods, and some import components in containers. Rail service through Greencastle can help these companies reduce trucking costs for long-distance freight.
Rail versus truck
The Crescent Corridor was designed to move freight off I-81 onto rail, especially for long hauls to the South and Midwest. Shippers in the area can compare rail through Greencastle with trucking.
International containers usually arrive at East Coast ports such as Baltimore, Norfolk or New York and New Jersey, and may be trucked or railed to the region. Winter weather in the Cumberland Valley can bring snow and ice, and I-81 can be slowed by accidents and heavy truck traffic.
The Cumberland Valley's warehouse boom
Franklin County and neighboring Cumberland County have become one of the fastest-growing warehouse markets on the East Coast. Chambersburg, Shippensburg, Greencastle and nearby townships have welcomed millions of square feet of new distribution space, much of it near I-81 exits.
Developers are drawn by large, flat sites, good highway access and a central location between the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Retailers, grocery distributors and e-commerce operators use the area to serve customers from Washington to New York.
The Greencastle intermodal facility complements that growth by offering rail access for domestic and some international freight. As more warehouses open, local drayage carriers are adding capacity to serve both rail and port moves.
Common lanes out of Chambersburg
Approximate one-way highway miles for the runs local carriers quote most often.
Chambersburg
Franklin County seat and distribution centers.
12 mi
Hagerstown, MD
Maryland distribution hub along I-81.
15 mi
Shippensburg
Warehouses along I-81 North.
25 mi
Harrisburg
Central Pennsylvania via I-81.
60 mi
Baltimore
Port of Baltimore via I-70 and I-695.
85 mi
Washington, D.C.
Capital region via I-70 and I-270.
90 mi
Booking drayage in Chambersburg: what to know
Local habits that change the price and timing of a move in Chambersburg. Mention them when you ask for a quote.
Confirm Greencastle routing
Check that your container or trailer is billed to the Franklin County facility, not Harrisburg.
Use rail for long hauls
Crescent Corridor service can be cheaper than trucking to the South and Midwest.
Plan around I-81 traffic
Heavy truck traffic and accidents can slow I-81. Allow buffer time.
Compare ports
Baltimore is close, but New York/New Jersey and Norfolk may offer more services. Compare options.
Drayage markets near Chambersburg
Many carriers that serve Chambersburg also run these nearby ports and rail ramps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about container drayage in Chambersburg, PA.