(Source: RailAmerica press release, June 12, 2012)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — RailAmerica, Inc. today reported that its total freight carloads for the month ended May 31, 2012 were 75,384, up 8% from 69,776 in May 2011.
The Company increased shipments in May 2012 in eight out of twelve commodity groups compared to May 2011. The largest increases were in Coal, Forest Products and Motor Vehicles. May 2012 Coal shipments compared favorably to May 2011 levels largely due to last year’s flooding-related service disruptions on the Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (MNA). Forest Products volumes were up in all regions. Motor Vehicles were up primarily due to increased carloads in the Midwest and West regions.
The largest declines were in Pulp, Paper & Allied Products and Metallic Ores and Metals. Pulp, Paper & Allied decreased primarily due to lower shipments in the Northeast region. Metallic Ores and Metals were lower primarily due to fewer shipments in the Northeast region.
May 2012 carloads include 2,194 carloads from the acquisition of three railroads in Alabama in 2011, the Wellsboro and Corning Railroad (WCOR), and Marquette Railroad (MQTR). RailAmerica completed its acquisition of a 70% interest in the WCOR on April 9, 2012. All of the carloads moved by the WCOR from April 9th are included in RailAmerica’s consolidated carload numbers. RailAmerica completed its acquisition of the MQTR on May 1, 2012. On a “same railroad” basis, carloads increased 5.7%.
April 2012 carloads have been restated in the quarter to date table in this release to account for an intercompany elimination on the WCOR of 374 carloads. April 2012 carloads were 71,562 a 0.7% decrease from April 2011.
RailAmerica, Inc. owns and operates short-line and regional freight railroads in North America, operating a portfolio of 45 individual railroads with approximately 7,500 miles of track in 28 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces.