Tuesday, June 12, 2012

RailAmerica carload traffic rose 8 percent in May

RailAmerica Inc. announced its carload traffic rose 8 percent in May, thanks in part to increases in coal, forest products, and motor vehicle shipments.

RailAmerica reported in a statement that its total freight carloads for the month increased to 75,384, from 69,776 in May of 2011, when flooding disrupted shipments of coal on the Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad.

The rail operator said its volume of forest products grew across regions, while motor vehicle traffic increased into the U.S. Midwest and West.
 
Pulp, paper and metals volumes were lower than a year ago due to fewer shipments into the Northeast, the company said.
 
May’s traffic numbers were boosted by 2,194 carloads due to RailAmerica's acquisition of three railroads in Alabama in 2011, the company said.
 
RailAmerica also restated its carload data from April after the intercompany elimination on the Wellsboro and Corning Railroad of 374 carloads that now shows a 0.7 percent decrease for that month to 71,562 year over year.

RailAmerica said traffic “has been choppy so far this year” as the company “has been hurt by weaker shipments of coal as that industry struggles to compete with low-priced natural gas.”

RailAmerica announced last month that its board is considering a potential sale of the company.

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