A container storage yard transportation system comprises a container storage yard having at least one container stacking area, at least one container handling cart delivery lane disposed alongside the container storage area, a container handling cart return lane associated with the delivery lane, a plurality of container handling carts disposed in the delivery and return lanes, gate handling equipment for transferring containers from ground transportation vehicles to handling carts in a loading position in the delivery lane such that the containers 1 an be transported to the container stacking area on the handling carts via the delivery lane, one or more yard gantry cranes for transferring the containers from the handling carts to the container stacking area, and cart shifting equipment for shifting empty handling carts between the delivery and return lanes such that the empty carts can be returned to the loading position via the return lane.