A US$14 million turning basin expansion project at Wilmington was completed last year, allowing the port to dock 8,000- to 10,000-TEU ships.
"The Queen City Express provides rail service over competing ports for container customers in one of the most significant economic centres in the southeastern United States," said North Carolina State Ports Authority executive director Paul Cozza.
The Queen City Express is one of the fastest and most direct rail services into and out of the Greater Charlotte region from a port in the US Southeast.
North Carolina Ports has also ordered Shanghai Zhenjua Heavy Industry Co (ZPMC) ship-to-shore cranes.
The Carolina Connector (CCX) will serve as a key transport hub in the southeast for container freight. CCX along with the Queen City Express will lower costs while taking trucks off the road.