Norfolk Southern Corp., a rail company based in Norfolk, VA, is working on opening intermodal operations at two airports in different parts of the country.

Most recently, the company announced plans for a $66 million project on 200 acres of land near Charlotte/Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, NC.

According to the Charlotte Business Journal, the company plans to complete the project by 2007. It will integrate rail shipments with truck shipments from nearby Interstate 485. Though it is near the airport, the company said no air cargo will be involved in the project.

The project will add about 140 jobs and 250,000 annual container lifts, compared with Norfolk’s existing operation in North Charlotte.

In other news, the company broke ground in July on an intermodal yard at Rickenbacker International Airport in Columbus, OH. This center, when completed, will allow transfer of cargo between rail, trucks and airplanes.

The Rickenbacker facility will be built on 300 acres at a cost of about $100 million. Of that, Norfolk has committed $25 million. Congress added another $17 million. The airport will seek the rest of the funds through state and local governments.