advertisement

---

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) recently reported July carloads totaling 85,199 units, up 16.3 percent compared with July 2010 volume. Excluding carloads from FreightLink in Australia — which GWI acquired in December 2010 — same-railroad carloads rose 6.4 percent.

Traffic gains were led by autos and auto parts, up 20.4 percent; farm and food products, up 19.1 percent; and coal and coke, up 12.8 percent. The only commodities that registered declines were lumber and forest products, down 10.5 percent, and petroleum products, down 1.4 percent.

Short-line holding company RailAmerica Inc. also reported July traffic results, which show carloads decreased 6.8 percent year over year to 68,727 units. Same-railroad carloads dipped 7.4 percent.

Coal carloads, which plummeted 26.3 percent, primarily caused the overall decline; excluding coal traffic, carloads fell only 1.2 percent, RailAmerica officials said in a prepared statement.

“Coal carloads primarily reflect decreased shipments in the Central Region and source shifts at the Indiana Southern Railroad,” they said.