Rural Georgia rail port gets big boost from Kia auto parts

SAVANNAH, Georgia (AP) – A rail terminal linking rural southwest Georgia to the Port of Savannah is getting a big boost from automaker Kia, which will move shipments of imported auto parts through the site daily to supply its manufacturing plant in West Point.

Gov. Nathan Deal announced the expansion Wednesday morning at Cordele Intermodal Services. The privately operated rail terminal works exclusively with the Georgia Ports Authority to move freight by train 200 miles between Cordele and the Savannah port.

The agreement enables Kia to move up to 30,000 container units through Cordele each year. Stuart Countess of Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia estimates that’s 60 or more truckloads per day.

Griff Lynch, executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority, says Kia’s import business will essentially double the cargo volume moving through Cordele.