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Last month, RailAmerica Inc. and Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) registered traffic increases. RailAmerica’s carloads totaled 109,304 units, a 2.1 percent increase compared with November 2004. On a “same railroad” basis — excluding carloads associated with railroads or portions of railroads sold or acquired after Jan. 1, 2004 — the short-line holding company’s November carloads totaled 106,193 units, a 0.1 percent decrease compared with the same 2004 period.

During 2005’s first 11 months, RailAmerica’s 47 U.S. and Canadian railroads moved 1.2 million carloads, a 5.3 percent increase compared with the same 2004 period. Same railroad carloads rose 1.8 percent to 1.1 million units.

In November, GWI’s North American traffic totaling 63,616 carloads increase 17 percent compared with November 2004. The company’s short lines moved significantly more carloads of coal, coke and ores (up 28.1 percent); pulp and paper (up 14.7 percent); and metals (up 12 percent).

However, excluding carloads from First Coast Railroad (which began operations April 9) and the former Rail Management Corp. railroads (which GWI began operating June 1), North American carloads fell 1.3 percent in November, primarily because of a drop in farm and food product traffic.
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Meanwhile, GWI’s half-owned Australian subsidiary last month moved 77,964 carloads, a 4.2 percent decrease compared with November 2004. The Australian Rail Group moved 4,421 fewer grain and 1,276 fewer iron ore carloads.