The BNSF Railway Company has opened the doors to its newly revamped and rebuilt Memphis Intermodal Facility and officials say it will double BNSF's lift capacity in the Memphis market and cement the city's place in the global supply chain.

The facility spans 185 acres and will have the capacity to handle 1 million lifts per year at full build out. According to a report in RailResource, the site features a streamlined automated gate system that uses digital cameras to record images of containers, chassis, and tractors as trucks enter and exit. Drivers are identified using a biometric system, one of many security measures that have been improved with the $200 million dollar rebuild.

"BNSF greatly appreciates the support of all of the political and business leaders who worked with us to make this day possible. That support is an important part of the reason why Memphis has developed into one of the most strategic transportation hubs in the Southeastern U.S.," said John Lanigan, executive VP and CMO for BNSF, in the RailResource article.