(RailAmerica, Inc., issued the following press release on March 14, 2011.)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — RailAmerica, Inc. today reported that its total freight carloads for the month ended February 28, 2011 were 63,347, down 5.5% from 67,041 in February 2010.
The Company had decreased shipments in February 2011 in nine out of twelve commodity groups compared to February 2010. Carloads were negatively impacted by weather, which resulted in temporary disruptions of service at certain railroads. Much of the decrease was due to shipments of Coal, Agricultural Products, and Metallic Ores and Metals. Coal declined primarily due to shipments in the Central U.S. Agricultural Product shipments were down primarily due to lower shipments in the Midwest and Northeast regions. Metallic Ores and Metals carloads declined primarily due to lower shipments in the Northeast and Southeast regions. The largest increases were in Pulp, Paper & Allied Products and Chemicals. Pulp, Paper & Allied Products was up primarily due to higher shipments in the Southeast and Central regions, and Chemical carloads were higher due to increased shipments in the Northeast and Southeast regions.
RailAmerica, Inc. owns and operates short line and regional freight railroads in North America, operating a portfolio of 40 individual railroads with approximately 7,300 miles of track in 27 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces.