The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroads in August 2017 was higher compared to August 2016. Total carloads were up 2.8 percent, from 361,405 in August 2016, to 371,493 in August 2017.

Coal again led gains, up 22.1 percent over August 2016. Crushed stone, sand and gravel carloads were up 19.9 percent, while petroleum products were up 15.5 percent. Nonmetallic minerals and metallic ores led declines, down 12.2 percent and 10.2 percent, respectively. (Click here to download the Carloads by Commodity file as an Excel table).

Total carloads for 2017 were at 2.85 million through August 31, up about 157,000, or 5.9 percent, from 2016.

Railinc publishes this information as a service to the rail industry. The Railinc Short Line and Regional Traffic Index can also be found monthly in Railway Age Magazine. For questions or comments, please contact the Railinc Corporate Communications department.