JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- RailAmerica, Inc. (NYSE: RA) today reported that its total freight carloads for the month ended March 31, 2010 were 75,295, up 8.7% from 69,285 in March 2009. These results exclude the discontinued Ottawa Valley Railway operation.
The Company had increased shipments in March 2010 in six out of twelve commodity groups compared to March 2009. Much of the increase was due to shipments of Agricultural Products, Chemicals and Metallic Ores and Metals. The Agricultural Products carloads increased primarily due to higher shipments in the West and Central regions. Chemical carloads were up primarily due to higher shipments in the Midwest region. Metallic Ores and Metals carloads increased primarily due to higher shipments in the Northeast and Southeast regions. The largest declines were in Coal and the Other commodity group. Coal was down primarily due to lower shipments in the Central U.S. Other was down primarily due to lower shipments in the Midwest and Southeast regions.
RailAmerica, Inc. owns and operates short line and regional freight railroads in North America, operating a portfolio of 40 individual railroads with approximately 7,400 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," "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, 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 filed with the Commission on March 26, 2010. 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 / Quarter to Date Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 March QTD March -------------------- ---------------------- Commodity Group 2010 2009 % Chg 2010 2009 % Chg --------------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Coal 14,093 15,061 -6.4% 42,775 44,510 -3.9% Agricultural Products 12,060 10,158 18.7% 33,942 28,566 18.8% Chemicals 8,682 7,020 23.7% 22,914 19,874 15.3% Non-Metallic Minerals & Products 6,835 7,032 -2.8% 17,752 19,559 -9.2% Metallic Ores & Metals 6,746 2,964 127.6% 17,056 10,159 67.9% Food or Kindred Products 5,069 4,570 10.9% 14,018 13,111 6.9% Pulp, Paper & Allied Products 4,829 4,960 -2.6% 13,995 14,465 -3.2% Waste & Scrap Materials 4,413 4,399 0.3% 13,105 13,181 -0.6% Forest Products 4,325 3,868 11.8% 11,423 11,661 -2.0% Petroleum 4,015 4,206 -4.5% 11,823 12,314 -4.0% Other 2,983 3,608 -17.3% 7,104 8,567 -17.1% Motor Vehicles 1,245 1,439 -13.5% 3,241 3,261 -0.6% --------------- ------ ------ ------ ------- ------- ------ TOTAL 75,295 69,285 8.7% 209,148 199,228 5.0%
The results in the table above exclude the discontinued Ottawa Valley Railway operation.
SOURCE RailAmerica, Inc.
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