The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroad in October 2020 was down compared to October 2019. Carloads originated decreased 4.4 percent, from 359,164 in October 2019 to 343,355 in October 2020.
Grain led gains again with a 35.4 percent increase. Waste and Scrap Materials was up 11.0 percent, and Metallic Ores and Stone, Clay and Glass Products increased 3.2 and 2.0 percent respectively. Nonmetallic Minerals led declines for the fourth consecutive month, down 39.2 percent. Motor Vehicles and Equipment, Lumber and Wood Products, Crushed Stone, Sand and Gravel, Trailer or Container, Metals and Products, Pulp, Paper and Allied Products, Coal, Food and Kindred Products, Petroleum Products and All Other Carloads were also down in October.
Click here to download the Carloads by Commodity table as an Excel file.
Carloads originated for 2020 were at 3,229,724 through October 31, down about 283,000 carloads, or 8.1 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.
