The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroad in October 2018 was up compared to October 2017. Carloads originated increased 2.9 percent, from 364,874 in October 2017 to 375,486 in October 2018.
Nonmetallic Minerals led gains with a 52.3 percent increase. Metals and Products were up 19.1 percent, and Trailer or Container and Chemicals increased 18.3 and 17.7 percent respectively. Coal led declines for the sixth straight month, down 32.6 percent. Waste and Scrap Materials, Motor Vehicles and Equipment, Metallic Ores and Crushed Stone, Sand and Gravel were also down in October.
Click here to download the Carloads by Commodity table as an Excel file.
Carloads originated for 2018 were at about 3.6 million through October 31, up about 70,00 carloads, or 2.1 percent from 2017.
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