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Yesterday, RailAmerica Inc. reported second-quarter revenue of $117.3 million, up 18 percent compared with second-quarter 2009’s total.  Freight revenue rose 17 percent to $96.5 million, non-freight revenue jumped 22 percent to $20.8 million and carloads increased 11 percent to 216,113 units.

“We made progress on each of our strategic priorities of organic growth, balance sheet strength and external growth,” said RailAmerica President and Chief Executive Officer John Giles in a prepared statement. “Our solid operating performance was driven by significantly higher revenue and further improvements in our underlying cost structure.”

However, including after-tax charges totaling $8.5 million for the early retirement of debt and interest rate swap termination costs, RailAmerica reported a second-quarter loss from continuing operations of $4.6 million vs. income from continuing operations of $5.1 million in second-quarter 2009. Operating income of $22.5 million was relatively flat vs. $22.9 million in the year-ago period.

Total operating expenses climbed 23 percent to $94.8 million as labor costs increased $5.6 million and fuel costs rose $3.3 million.

RailAmerica owns and operates 40 U.S. and Canadian regionals and short lines.