RailAmerica reports February 2011 monthly carloads

RailAmerica, Inc. reported that its total freight carloads for the month ended February 28, 2011 were 63,347, down 5.5 percent from 67,041 in February 2010. The company had decreased shipments in February 2011 in 9 out of 12 commodity groups compared to February 2010.

Carloads were negatively impacted by weather, which resulted in temporary disruptions of service at certain railroads.

Coal declined primarily due to shipments in the Central United States. Agricultural product shipments were down primarily due to lower shipments in the Midwest and Northeast regions.

The largest increases were in pulp, paper and allied products and chemicals primarily due to shipments in the Southeast and Central regions, and chemical carloads were higher due to increases in the Northeast and Southeast regions.