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During the first quarter, short lines increased carloads 2.2 percent compared with first-quarter 2005, according to RMI’s RailConnect Index® Quarterly Analysis of Traffic Statistics. The index tracks traffic data in 14 commodity groups collected from 265 North American regionals, short lines and terminal switching railroads.

Commodities posting the biggest gains include stone, clay and aggregates (11.9 percent), farm and food excluding grain (10.1 percent), intermodal (7.0 percent), grain (5.2 percent), and waste and scrap materials (2.8 percent).

However, five commodity groups posted traffic declines compared with first-quarter 2005. Ores carloads registered the largest decrease at 12.6 percent.

Terminated traffic accounted for 41 percent; originated traffic, 36 percent; local traffic, 14 percent and bridge traffic, 10 percent of all quarterly carloads. In first-quarter 2005, terminated traffic accounted for 42 percent; originated traffic, 36 percent; local traffic, 14 percent; and bridge traffic 9 percent of all carloads.

Each month, Progressive Railroading publishes the RailConnect Index® of Short-Line Traffic — which tracks year-to-date carload data provided by RMI — in the “Trends” section.