RailAmerica reports July 2011 monthly carloads

RailAmerica, Inc. reported that its total freight carloads for the month ended July 31, 2011 were 68,727, down 6.8 percent from 73,739 in July 2010. Lower coal shipments were the main reason for the decline. Excluding coal, carloads were down 1.2 percent.

RailAmerica had increased shipments in July 2011 in 5 out of 12 commodity groups compared to July 2010.

The largest increases were in chemicals and other. Chemicals were up due to higher shipments in the Northeast, Central and Southeast regions. Other was stronger due to increased shipments in the West, Midwest and Southeast regions. The largest declines were in coal, agricultural products and petroleum. Coal carloads primarily reflect decreased shipments in the Central region and source shifts at the Indiana Southern Railroad. Agricultural carloads were down primarily due to fewer shipments in the Midwest and Central regions. Petroleum volumes were down primarily due to decreased carloads in the West and Northeast regions.

July 2011 carloads include 434 carloads from the acquisition of three railroads in Alabama. On a “same railroad” basis, carloads declined 7.4 percent.