BOCA RATON, Fla. — RailAmerica, Inc. (RRA), the world’s largest short line and regional railroad operator, today announced that total carloads (including intermodal units) for September 2002 increased 21.6% to 118,611, from 97,561 in 2001. Year-to-date through September 30, 2002, total carloads increased 17.3% to 1,073,919, from 915,840 in 2001. Total carloads for 2002 include the StatesRail and ParkSierra acquisitions. On a “same railroad” basis, September 2002 carloads were up 2.0% to 97,804, from 95,843 in 2001. Year-to-date through September 30, 2002, “same railroad” carloads decreased 1.2% to 887,445, from 898,269 in 2001.
North American Carloads
Total North America carloads for September 2002 were up 30.1% to 92,166, versus 70,873 in 2001. Year-to-date through September 30, 2002, total North American carloads increased 24.1% to 828,510, versus 667,612 in 2001. On a “same railroad” basis, September 2002 carloads were up 3.2% to 71,359, from 69,155 in 2001. Year-to-date through September 30, 2002, “same railroad” carloads decreased 8,005 carloads, or 1.2%, to 642,036, from 650,041 in 2001. As previously announced, Canadian “same railroad” traffic for the year was down 13,920 cars, principally attributable to lower bridge traffic of 14,290 cars. U.S. “same railroad” carloads were up 5,915 cars for the year.
International Carloads
For September 2002, international total and “same railroad” carloads of 26,445 were comparable to the 26,688 in 2001. In Chile, September 2002 traffic was up 2,084 carloads due primarily to increased shipments associated with its new copper ore contract, while Australian grain traffic was down 2,327 carloads due to previously announced drought conditions in the grain region served as compared with last year’s above average grain harvest. Year- to-date through September 30, 2002, international total and “same railroad” carloads decreased 1.1% to 245,409, from 248,228 in 2001. For the year, new copper traffic in Chile was offset by lower grain shipments in Australia.
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 September 30, 2002 and 2001, as well as carloads by country of origin for the month and year-to-date.
RailAmerica, Inc. (www.railamerica.com ), the world’s largest short line and regional railroad operator, owns 49 railroads operating approximately 12,800 route miles in the United States, Canada, Australia and Chile. In North America, the Company’s railroads operate in 27 states and six Canadian provinces. Internationally, the Company operates an additional 4,300 route miles under track access arrangements in Australia and Argentina. RailAmerica is a member of the Russell 2000(R) Index and in October 2001 was ranked 85th on Forbes magazine’s list of the 200 Best Small Companies in America.