Intermodal Rail from Miami: FEC, Hialeah Yard and the Jacksonville Interchange (2026)

Intermodal rail out of Miami runs on one railroad. Florida East Coast Railway owns the 351-mile mainline from Jacksonville to Miami and is the exclusive rail provider for PortMiami, Port Everglades and the Port of Palm Beach. Everything that moves by rail from South Florida moves on FEC first, and then interchanges to CSX or Norfolk Southern at Jacksonville for the rest of the country. Understanding that two-stage structure is what tells you whether rail is right for your freight.

On-dock rail at PortMiami

PortMiami’s rail connection was restored in 2014 after a joint investment by the port, FEC, the State of Florida and U.S. DOT to link the terminal to the improved Hialeah intermodal yard. The on-dock facility offers roughly 9,000 feet of track in three 3,000-foot sections and supports daily double-stack port trains, which means a container can go from vessel to railcar without a street move.

That is the real advantage: no drayage leg, no chassis, no gate appointment for the first move. If you are weighing it against trucking, our guides to chassis costs at PortMiami and drayage accessorial charges show what you are avoiding.

Hialeah Yard: the southern gateway

Hialeah is where South Florida intermodal volume aggregates. It is the practical origin and destination for shippers whose freight does not come off a ship — domestic intermodal loads heading north, and inbound boxes destined for Medley, Doral and Hialeah warehouses. If your facility is already in that corridor, the drayage move to or from Hialeah is short, which is exactly what makes intermodal economics work. Our comparison of Medley vs. Doral vs. Hialeah is worth reading if you are choosing a warehouse location with rail in mind.

The Jacksonville interchange

FEC’s northern end is Jacksonville, where Bowden Yard serves as its primary classification and intermodal terminal. From there, freight interchanges to the CSX and Norfolk Southern networks for movement into the Southeast, Midwest and Northeast. For a shipper, this means a Miami-to-Chicago intermodal move is really two moves stitched together, and the interchange is where schedule variability lives.

When rail wins and when it does not

Rail usually wins when:

• The destination is more than roughly 700 to 800 miles out
• The freight is heavy, dense and not time-critical
• You have flexible delivery windows and warehouse capacity to absorb schedule variance
• Fuel and driver capacity are tight, since intermodal pricing is less exposed to both

Truck usually wins when:

• The move is within Florida or to the near Southeast
• The delivery date is firm and there is no slack
• The freight is temperature-sensitive with narrow tolerances, or hazmat with restrictive handling
• You need door-to-door visibility with a single responsible carrier

In practice many South Florida shippers use both: rail for replenishment and truck for exceptions. Our guide to Miami to Orlando and Tampa freight covers the in-state lanes where trucking is almost always the answer.

What intermodal actually requires from you

Rail is less forgiving on packaging and load securement than a dry van, because a container on a well car sees different forces. Block and brace properly, avoid marginal pallet quality, and do not assume a load that survived a truck will survive a double-stack train. Plan free time at both ends too — storage at an intermodal ramp accrues just as it does at a marine terminal.

Frequently asked questions

Which railroad serves PortMiami?

Florida East Coast Railway is the exclusive rail provider for PortMiami, Port Everglades and the Port of Palm Beach. FEC owns the 351-mile mainline from Jacksonville to Miami and interchanges with CSX and Norfolk Southern in Jacksonville.

Does PortMiami have on-dock rail?

Yes. On-dock rail service was restored in 2014 and connects the terminal to FEC’s Hialeah intermodal yard. The facility has about 9,000 feet of track in three 3,000-foot sections and supports daily double-stack port trains.

At what distance does intermodal beat trucking out of Miami?

As a general rule, intermodal becomes competitive beyond roughly 700 to 800 miles, when the freight is not time-critical. Inside Florida and to the near Southeast, trucking is normally faster and simpler.

Connect rail to your Miami door

Go Freight handles the drayage, transload and warehousing around Hialeah and PortMiami from 3300 NW 110 St, Miami, FL 33167. Request a freight quote or call (786) 445-0150.