RailAmerica, Inc. Reports December 2010 Monthly Carloads

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- RailAmerica, Inc. (NYSE: RA) today reported that its total freight carloads for the month ended December 31, 2010 were 71,209, up 4.0% from 68,445 in December 2009.  These results include the Ottawa Valley Railway (OVRR) operation.

The Company increased shipments in December 2010 in nine out of twelve commodity groups compared to December 2009.  Much of the increase was due to shipments of Coal, Metallic Ores and Metals, and Non-Metallic Minerals and Products.  Coal increased primarily due to shipments in the Central region.  Metallic Ores and Metals volumes were up primarily due to increased shipments in the Midwest and Northeast regions.  Non-Metallic Minerals and Products carloads increased primarily due to higher shipments in the Central and Northeast regions.  The largest declines were in Agricultural Products and Motor Vehicles.  Agricultural Products were down primarily due to lower shipments in the Midwest and West regions, and Motor Vehicles were down primarily due to decreased shipments in the Midwest region.  

RailAmerica, Inc. owns and operates short line and regional freight railroads in North America, operating a portfolio of 40 individual railroads with approximately 7,300 miles of track in 27 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain items in this press release and other information we provide from time to time may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, but not necessarily limited to, statements relating to future events and financial performance. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "appears," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "seeks," "estimates" and variations on these words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of factors that could lead to actual results materially different from those described in the forward-looking statements. RailAmerica, Inc. can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Factors that could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects or that could cause actual results to differ materially from RailAmerica, Inc.'s expectations include, but are not limited to, prolonged capital markets disruption and volatility, general economic conditions and business conditions, our relationships with Class I railroads and other connecting carriers, our ability to obtain railcars and locomotives from other providers on which we are currently dependent, legislative and regulatory developments including rulings by the Surface Transportation Board or the Railroad Retirement Board, strikes or work stoppages by our employees, our transportation of hazardous materials by rail, rising fuel costs, goodwill assessment risks, acquisition risks, competitive pressures within the industry, risks related to the geographic markets in which we operate; and other risks detailed in RailAmerica, Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.  In addition, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for RailAmerica, Inc. to predict or assess the impact of every factor that may cause its actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. RailAmerica, Inc. expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

    
    
                                RailAmerica, Inc.
                      Carload Comparisons by Commodity Group
                      Month Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
    
                                   December                QTD December
                             ----------------------   -----------------------
        Commodity Group       2010    2009   % Chg     2010     2009   % Chg
        ---------------      ------  ------  ------   ------   ------  ------
    Coal                     15,621  13,690   14.1%   44,593   41,687    7.0%
    Agricultural Products    11,430  12,725  -10.2%   35,248   38,199   -7.7%
    Chemicals                 7,736   7,332    5.5%   24,197   21,106   14.6%
    Non-Metallic Minerals
     and Products             6,092   5,387   13.1%   19,752   16,896   16.9%
    Pulp, Paper & Allied
     Products                 5,690   5,286    7.6%   16,258   15,639    4.0%
    Metallic Ores and Metals  4,970   3,702   34.3%   15,412   11,683   31.9%
    Food or Kindred Products  4,590   4,291    7.0%   14,195   13,102    8.3%
    Waste & Scrap Materials   4,288   4,643   -7.6%   13,760   13,944   -1.3%
    Petroleum                 3,868   3,682    5.1%   10,946   10,700    2.3%
    Forest Products           3,774   3,582    5.4%   10,957   10,995   -0.3%
    Other                     2,396   1,961   22.2%    7,785    6,434   21.0%
    Motor Vehicles              754   2,164  -65.2%    2,351    6,053  -61.2%
    -----------------------  ------  ------  ------  -------  -------   -----
    TOTAL                    71,209  68,445    4.0%  215,454  206,438    4.4%
    
    OVRR                       (673)   (738)          (2,013)  (2,032)
    TOTAL (excluding OVRR)   70,536  67,707    4.2%  213,441  204,406    4.4%

SOURCE RailAmerica