(RailAmerica issued the following press release on June 14, 2011.)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — RailAmerica, Inc. reported that its total freight carloads for the month ended May 31, 2011 were 69,776, down 1.7% from 70,967 in May 2010.
The Company had increased shipments in May 2011 in six out of twelve commodity groups compared to May 2010. Much of the decrease was due to lower shipments of Petroleum and Coal. Petroleum carloads were down primarily due to lower shipments in the West and Northeast regions. The decline in coal carloads was primarily due to flooding related service disruptions on the Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (MNA), which resumed full operations on May 13th, and reduced volume on the Indiana Southern Railroad. Excluding coal shipments, carloads increased 7.1% in May.
The largest increases were in Agricultural Products, Non-Metallic Minerals and Products, and Pulp, Paper & Allied Products. Agricultural Products was up primarily due to higher shipments in the Midwest and Central regions. Non-Metallic Minerals and Products were stronger due to increased shipments in the Midwest and Central regions, and Pulp, Paper & Allied carloads were higher due to increased shipments in the Southeast and Central regions.
May 2011 carloads include 563 carloads from the acquisition of three railroads in Alabama. On a “same railroad” basis, carloads declined 2.5%. Excluding coal shipments, “same railroad” carloads increased 6.1% in May.
RailAmerica, Inc. owns and operates short-line and regional freight railroads in North America, operating a portfolio of 43 individual railroads with approximately 7,400 miles of track in 27 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces.