advertisement

---

In February, RailAmerica Inc. recorded a 13.9 percent increase in consolidated carloads, driven in part by healthy agricultural and farm product volumes in North America and Australia.

On a "same-railroad" basis, February carloads increased 8.6 percent to 107,772, compared with 99,209 for the same 2003 period. Year-to-date through Feb. 29, the company posted carloads of 228,534, an 11.8 percent increased compared with the same 2003 period. On a same-railroad basis, year-to-date carloads increased 7.5 percent to 219,793, from 204,368 in 2003. (Note: Same-railroad totals exclude carloads associated with railroads, or portions of railroads, sold or acquired after Jan. 1, 2003.)

For the month, RailAmerica’s total North American carloads stood at 95,506, an 11.7 percent hike compared with the 85,532 hauled in February 2003. Strong bridge traffic, agricultural and farm products, metals, and food product shipments more than offset lower lumber and forest products, and intermodal carloads, according to a prepared statement.

On a same-railroad basis, the company hauled 90,158 carloads, a 5.5 percent increase compared with 85,465 hauled during the same 2003 period. Through February, RailAmerica recorded 193,327 total North American carloads, an 8.9 percent increase compared with 177,582 for the same period last year. On a same-railroad basis, year-to-date carloads increased 4 percent — to 184,586 — up from 177,454 during the same 2003 period.

RailAmerica’s Australia numbers were even better, recording carloads of 17,614, a 28.2 percent increase compared with 13,744 carloads for the same 2003 period. Agricultural and farm product shipments more than doubled -- to 7,328 – compared with February 2003’s 3,711 carloads. Through February, total Australian carloads were 35,207, a 30.8 percent jump from the 26,914 hauled during the same 2003 period.

RailAmerica owns 47 railroads operating about 15,000 miles in the United States, Canada and Australia, including track access arrangements.