The January 2008 draft of the Freight Profile for the Augusta Regional Transportation Study indicates that rail cargo accounts for 7% of all freight in the region by weight (2006
TRANSEARCH). Some of the leading commodities shipped out of Augusta are
clay,
concrete,
glass, and
stone products. The leading commodity terminating in the area is
lumber and
wood products. At-grade
railroad crossings are located on many roads throughout the city. The crossings have been a part of
city life for many years. Solutions have been sought to reduce the inevitable conflicts between railroad, motor vehicle, and
pedestrian traffic. The availability of rail service is a major attraction for new
industry and maintaining existing industry. Other companies serving the city were the
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and the
Central of Georgia Railway. In 1999, the Georgia Transportation Board approved a long-range plan to provide
inter-city passenger rail service between
Atlanta and other major cities across the state.
Freight service There are two
freight providers:
Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) and
CSX.
Norfolk Southern Railway The NS mainline track, known as the
R-Line, enters the city from the north, crossing the
Savannah River and traveling through
downtown on the
right-of-way of
6th Street, and is known as the Augusta District. The mainline continues to the southeast toward
Savannah. NS has two
railroad yards in Augusta: the main
classification yard is approximately south of downtown. Its second yard, the Nixon Yard, is south of
Augusta Regional Airport near the
International Paper plant.
CSX Transportation The CSX mainline travels through the city in what is essentially an east–west direction. This line, known partially as the
Augusta and
McCormick subdivisions, connects Augusta to
Spartanburg, South Carolina and Savannah. There is a second CSX line, partially known as the
Georgia Subdivision, and was formerly owned by
Georgia Railroad and Banking Company, is a connection to Atlanta. CSX has two railroad yards in the city. The main railroad yard is located off of
Laney Walker Boulevard southeast of downtown. The yard covers approximately . It consists of an inbound receiving yard and an outbound classification yard. Its second yard, the Harrisonville Yard, is located on between Olive Road and
Wrightsboro Road. ==Water services==