NC Governor Cooper announces launch of the Wilmington Midwest Express

Today Governor Cooper announced the launch of the Wilmington Midwest Express, the North Carolina Ports Authority’s daily direct rail connection to the Midwest via the Carolina Connector Intermodal Rail Terminal in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. This new service will supply a key intermodal capability of expediting shipping containers to the Midwest while concurrently reducing customer transit costs and emissions.

“The Wilmington Midwest Express will positively impact our customers by providing a more direct connection between shippers and consumers,” stated Brian E. Clark, Executive Director. “This new service provides a competitive advantage in a time when supply chain issues are impacting ports across the United States.”

The Wilmington Midwest Express will service a five-day connection to Chicago and Northwest Ohio and a seven-day connection to St. Louis, providing customers with unprecedented and reliable access to Midwest markets.

The launch of the Wilmington Midwest Express is complimentary to North Carolina Ports Authority’s $265M investment in growth and commitment to enhancing services for our customers. No rail dwell time, matched with high vessel productivity, makes us the fastest ship-to-rail service on the East Coast.