The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroad in March 2020 was up compared to March 2019. Carloads originated increased 1.5 percent, from 347,399 in March 2019 to 352,656 in March 2020.
Grain Mill Products led gains for the third consecutive month with a 22.3 percent increase. Chemicals was up 19.8 percent, and Lumber and Wood Products and Stone, Clay and Glass Products increased 17.7 and 11.8 percent respectively. Coal led declines for the fourth consecutive month, down 30.4 percent. Trailer or Container, Nonmetallic Minerals, Crushed Stone, Sand and Gravel, Metallic Ores, Motor Vehicles and Equipment, Petroleum Products and Other Carloads were also down in March.
Click here to download the Carloads by Commodity table as an Excel file.
Carloads originated for 2020 were at 1,010,400 through March 31, up about 1,000 carloads, or 0.1 percent from 2019.
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.
