USA Rail Terminals has commenced operations at its newest rail terminal in Monroe, Louisiana, expanding critical rail-to-truck logistics capacity to support construction activity associated with Meta's Richland Parish Data Center in nearby Holly Ridge, Louisiana – the largest hyperscale data centre announced by Meta to date.
"This is exactly the type of project rail is built for," said Rich Montgomery, Chief Executive Officer of Alpenglow Rail, the parent company of USA Rail Terminals. "When you're moving massive volumes of aggregate and construction materials on a sustained basis, rail delivers unmatched efficiency, reliability, and scale."
The Monroe terminal is designed to handle high-volume movements of aggregate and other bulk construction materials, supporting both the initial buildout and long-term supply needs of large-scale infrastructure projects. The facility is served by Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Railway and is capable of handling 90-car unit trains, providing high-throughput rail-to-truck transloading. Ground-pile storage at the terminal enables customers to stage materials efficiently and maintain consistent delivery flows to regional construction sites.
"The Richland Parish Data Center is one of the most significant global infrastructure builds currently underway anywhere in the world," Montgomery added. "Our job is to ensure that the supply chain never becomes the bottleneck – and this terminal is well suited to do exactly that."
Meta has announced plans for the Richland Parish campus to span approximately 4 million square feet across more than 2000 acres, representing a multi-billion-dollar investment in advanced artificial intelligence infrastructure. Construction is expected to extend through the end of the decade, with peak activity employing thousands of skilled-trade workers. Once operational, it is expected to support hundreds of permanent jobs.
"Projects of this magnitude don't succeed without logistics partners who understand scale," said Chad Womack, Director of Business Development at USA Rail Terminals. "By railing aggregate materials directly into the local market and efficiently unloading 90-car unit trains, we aim to significantly reduce long-haul truck traffic while providing a reliable supply to keep construction timelines on track."
The Monroe terminal strengthens USA Rail Terminals' growing national footprint and reinforces Alpenglow Rail's strategy of aligning rail infrastructure investments with large-scale industrial and technology developments.
"This facility reflects our long-term view of rail assets as part of the critical backbone that enables next-generation infrastructure," Montgomery said. "From AI data centre's to energy, manufacturing, and industrial development, rail terminals like Monroe are essential to building the economy of the future."
Meta has also committed to matching the data centre's electricity usage with 100% clean and renewable energy, along with investments in local infrastructure such as roads, utilities, and water systems, further enhancing the project's regional economic impact.
"Supporting a project that combines advanced technology, sustainability commitments, and regional economic growth is something we're proud of," Montgomery said.
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