BOCA RATON, Fla. — RailAmerica, Inc., the world’s largest short line and regional railroad operator, announced on January 10 that “same railroad” carloads (including intermodal units) for fiscal 2001 increased 4% to 1,214,554, from 1,167,003 in 2000. For the month of December 2001, “same railroad” carloads were 91,375, up 400 carloads from 90,975 in December 2000. Same railroad totals exclude carloads associated with railroads, or portions of railroads, sold or railroads acquired by the Company after January 2001.
North American Carloads
For fiscal 2001, total North American “same railroad” carloads increased 2% to 885,579, from 869,783 in 2000. North American carloads for December 2001 were up 2% to 66,538, versus 65,149 in December 2000.
International Carloads
For fiscal 2001, total international “same railroad” carloads increased 5% to 328,975, from 312,292 in 2000. International carloads for December 2001 were down 4% to 24,837, versus 25,826 in December 2000.
Gary O. Marino, Chairman, President & CEO of RailAmerica, said, “We are pleased to report record carloads despite a difficult economic environment for the industrial sector in 2001. Our ‘same railroad’ carload growth continues to lead the industry, but we are not satisfied and hope to improve upon these carloads in 2002. Through our annual budgeting process, many of our shippers have indicated that traffic levels will recover this year.”
Historically, the Company has found that carload information may be indicative of freight revenues on its railroads, but may not be indicative of total revenues, operating expenses, operating income or net income. Attached is a comparison of consolidated carloads by commodity group for the month and year-to-date as of December 31, 2001 and 2000.
RailAmerica, Inc. (www.railamerica.com), the world’s largest short line and regional railroad operator, owns 50 short line and regional railroads operating approximately 13,200 route miles in the United States, Canada, Australia and Chile. In North America, the Company’s railroads operate in 29 states and five Canadian provinces. Internationally, the Company operates an additional 4,300 route miles under track access arrangements in Australia and Argentina. In October 2001, RailAmerica was ranked 85th on Forbes magazine’s list of the 200 Best Small Companies in America; in July 2001, the Company was named to the Russell 2000® Index.